While the rest of Irish rugby has been cast into the spotlight this week with new coach appointments and retirements, Leinster are quietly going about their business as they prepare for their URC return.
Leo Cullen’s men have won all 15 of their games so far this season and welcome Cardiff to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. The Welsh outfit are without head coach Matt Sherratt, who has taken the Wales job on an interim basis, and Cullen expects a real test for Leinster’s blitz defence.
“In an attacking sense, definitely there was a lot we took from it (Wales v Ireland), because we’re scouting Cardiff, and there’s been so much media coverage of Wales so there is a lot of data,” Cullen said.
“You can see some traits in Wales at the weekend that we could see from Cardiff. They like to play some nice shapes from an attacking point of view and they love getting the ball out wide. So, it’ll be good test for us defensively.”
After the Cardiff game and the completion of the Six Nations, the Blues will travel to South Africa before the return of the Champions Cup — at Croke Park against the Harlequins — and Cullen says the squad is ready heading into knock-out rugby in both domestically and in Europe.
“You have got to get there first, and then you have to keep winning,” he added.
“That’s the exciting part, there are big days ahead and everyone just needs to be ready and when they do get the opportunity to play, that they’re able to play to the best of their ability and kick on in the next game.”
The absence of many internationals gives players like Jimmy O’Brien, Will Connors, Brian Deeny and more a chance to stake their claim for selection come April.
O’Brien, who slots in at full-back, is relishing the next few months.
“After the Six Nations, it’s always big game after big game in the URC, where every point counts and in Europe, especially with home advantage in the Champions Cup and the lure of Croke Park,” he said.
“It will be a good test against Cardiff and South Africa, that’d be tough as well. The season ramps up when everyone comes back together after Six Nations. Big games and we look forward to it. Everyone wants to play in those European games, so no motivation needed.”