In the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, Leinster will face Northampton at Croke Park on Saturday, with the match live on RTÉ 2 and TNT Sports. A full house of 82,300 rugby fans will fill the iconic Irish sports arena, from Hill 16 to the towering Hogan, Cusack and Davin stands.
After a gap of 15 years, Leinster return for another Investec Champions Cup semi-final at the home of the GAA. They hope to repeat their past triumph, when they toppled the then favourites and reigning European champions, Munster, demonstrating that pre-match forecasts aren’t always accurate.
Leinster players warmed up at the Jones’ Road venue, playing a friendly game under Gaelic football rules. Players such as Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Jimmy O’Brien and Jamie Osborne seized the opportunity to practice their shot at goal. Northampton, in contrast, opted for hurls and sliotars later in the day.
Leinster’s head coach, Leo Cullen, expressed his enthusiasm about being at the significant stadium, saying, “It’s a wonderful privilege to be here – it’s iconic within sporting circles and in Ireland as a whole.” He highlighted the importance of the occasion for the current team, with Cian Healy being the only live link from the team that played there previously. Hopes are high that they will do justice to the venue.
Unfortunately, neither Hugo Keenan nor Garry Ringrose are sufficiently fit to play. For the match against La Rochelle, the team has replaced two players, Ross Molony pairing with Joe McCarthy in the second row, and Josh van der Flier at openside flanker.
Will Connors won’t be participating which Cullen has admitted is unfortunate. Long-term neck issue sufferer, Jimmy O’Brien, has been named in the day’s squad. Meanwhile, Cian Healy can set a new tournament appearance record if he comes off the bench, securing his place over Michael Milne.
Caelan Doris, the captain and number eight for Leinster, shared how the club’s backroom associate and ex-Dublin footballer, Declan Darcy, formed a motivational dialogue with the team, stressing the importance of playing at Croke Park. Darcy advised that the location can amplify a team’s on-field execution, whether it be sublime or subpar. They’ve dedicated the past fortnight to perfecting their form, with the hope of engaging spectators, fostering a buzzing ambience and making the day a monumental occasion for them.
On the other hand, Northampton will be operating without the services of flanker Lewis Ludlum (shoulder injury) and wing Ollie Sleightholme (concussion). Nonetheless, the team will be boosted by the return of Fraser Dingwall, Alex Coles, Alex Moon and young 21-year-old winger George Hendy, all of whom sat out the loss to Harlequins. Courtney Lawes steps in as captain with Juarno Augustus taking up the number eight slot.
Presently, the Saints hold the number one place in the Gallagher Premiership, thanks to their dynamic, pace-laden attacking style, strong set piece, and young fly-half Fin Smith. They also have the tactical prowess of scrum-half Alex Mitchell. Curtis Landon, a promising young hooker, and Lawes, the tournament’s top lineout winner despite his advancing age, are also part of the team.
The Saints’ ranks include a group of England internationals, noted for calling a halt to Ireland’s run in March at Twickenham. They’re supported by the versatility of Tommy Freeman, fleet-footed fullback George Furbank, and Fraser Dingwall, who acts as a stalwart in the backline’s defence.
Contrarily, most Leinster players have had ample rest recently. They’ve utilised the past few weeks to regain composure from their thrilling victory against La Rochelle, and to fine-tune a new strategy at their UCD base. Meanwhile, some squad members upheld URC obligations in South Africa.
While Leinster’s defensive statistics may not be overly impressive when considered in isolation, their overall performance proves that they have the might to overcome their opponents in the tournament. Although they have received the highest number of yellow cards (five), committed the most penalties (70), missed several tackles (149), and have the lowest percentage of successful tackles (84%) among the four semi-finalists, these figures hide the fact that Leinster’s robust defensive strategies were instrumental in their victory over La Rochelle.
Leinster has mastered the art of gaining ground through their kicks, outweighing any other team in the tourney. Coupled with surrendering the least turnovers, their stronghold lies in retaining the ball, slowing down their rivals’ attempts to reclaim the ball, and feasting on every possible opportunity.
In particular, the skilful handling of scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and the calculated game control of Ross Byrne stands out. Ciarán Frawley’s commendable performance at fullback and the role bestowed on Molony and Van der Flier all influence the momentum of the team’s game.
A glance at the historical performance of the teams reveals that Leinster has dominated the Saints, winning nine out of ten games, with the 2011 European final being a significant feather in their cap. Interestingly, the sole victory claimed by Northampton was on an Irish field, namely the Aviva Stadium.
Northampton’s campaign showed brilliance and vulnerability in equal measure, with twin victories over Munster. Their initially resilient stance at Thomond Park gradually gave way to doubt and instability during the knock-out game at Franklin’s Gardens.
The odds seem to favour Leinster, seen by many as the superior team with 14-point lead predictions. Their fierce determination, endless grit and ruthless execution need to shine through to secure a victory.
The Leinster team compromising Captain Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Ryan Baird, Joe McCarthy, Ross Molony, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, James Lowe, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jordan Larmour, and Ciarán Frawley, will need to bring their A-game.
The substitutions for Leinster include Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Jason Jenkins, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, and Jimmy O’Brien. As for NORTHAMPTON, the roster includes George Furbank, James Ramm, Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, and George Hendy; backed up by Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell. The forward line includes Alex Waller, Curtis Langdon, Trevor Davison, Alex Moon, Alex Coles, and the captain, Courtney Lawes, Sam Graham and Juarno Augustus. The reserves for Northampton include Sam Matavesi, Emmanuel Iyogun, Elliot Millar Mills, Temo Mayanavanua, Angus Scott-Young, Tom James, Tom Litchfield, and Tom Seabrook. The game is overseen by French referee Mathieu Raynal. The forecast suggests a Leinster triumph.