On Saturday January 12th the RDS will fill to
welcome two serial champions of European rugby.
Leinster face their toughest challenge yet in their quest to
claim back to back Champions Cups against a blossoming Toulouse side.
The main talking point is that Leinster are without a host
of stars through injury or suspension. Captain Johnny Sexton (tendon), Rob
Kearney (quad), Dan Leavy (calf), Devin Toner (ankle), and Robbie Henshaw
(hamstring) miss out through injury while James Lowe is suspended.
In Sexton’s absence Ross Byrne has been handed the number 10
jersey, with Rhys Ruddock captaining the side, while Jordan Larmour slots in at
full-back. Dave Kearney and Adam Byrne will occupy the wings, with Scott Fardy
and James Ryan at 4 and 5 respectively.
Although, Lowe will be sorely missed, his absence has allowed for Leinster to name Jamison Gibson-Park as their replacement scrum-half. Alongside him on the bench is 22-year-old Conor O’Brien, who comes into the side after his impressive showing against Ulster last weekend.
On the other hand, the French giants, currently second in
the Top 14, are bursting with confidence after going 12 games unbeaten and
having key players in the team that did not feature in their 28-27 win over
their opponents in October.
Most noticeably, All Black Jerome Kaino starts at number 8,
after missing the first clash with Leinster. Maxime Medard switches to
full-back after scoring two tries in the previous clash from the wing.
Yoann Huget is named on the wing, with Thomas Ramos and Antoine Dupont coming in for Zack Holmes and Sebastien Bezy, to start at fly-half and scrum-half respectively.
Both teams have incredible power in the backs and forwards and Leinster head coach Stuart Lancaster has noted his team will have to be at the top of their game to cope with the challenge Toulouse pose.
“We pride ourselves in our ability to play unstructured rugby but they are at a different level”, Lancaster told the Irish Times earlier this week. Adding “the big thing for me is being on point defensively as well”.
Both these teams are hunting for their fifth European cup
and although Leinster are missing their star names this is without a doubt the
clash of the weekend. Whoever comes out on top here may well be the team
lifting the trophy in Newcastle in May.
