Defence is crucial for Leinster win
Leinster will take on Racing Metro in Dublin in the Heineken Cup this Saturday.
The Irish side will face a difficult task despite playing at home and will be very wary of the Heineken Cup debutants Racing Metro.
The French side have proved to be formidable opponents this season and top their own domestic league. Racing’s away form has seen them beat Toulon and Brive, while they have also won their last four home games.
Despite being handed three away games in the competition they have a number of experienced players that will have no problem facing Leinster at home.
Like most French sides Racing Metro has a potent scrum and maul, which is sure to cause a weak Leinster scrum difficulties. Sebastien Chabal will make a number of big hits and Jonathan Wiesnewski has a powerful kick.
The Metro defence will be aggressive and Leinster will be in for a physical contest even in the backs where Albert Vulivuli will seek out Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll. Fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez is another star player that the French club has recruited.
The Irish province will welcome back Jonathan Sexton who played in the second half of Leinster’s 13-9 win against Munster last weekend.
Sexton could prove crucial as Isa Nacewa has been forced to fill in at the fly-half position during Sexton’s absence. Nacewa will be expected to play on the wing in what is a more familiar role.
Leinster should be able to field a strong side, although they will still be missing Captain Leo Cullen and Stan Wright in the front row.
The former Heineken Cup champions have had an indifferent start to their season and have only won two of their five games in the Magners League. However, their win against league leader’s Munster will give the Irish side confidence going into the Heineken
Cup match.
Sexton admitted that Leinster may have an advantage as Racing Metro will not be as familiar with Leinster as they are with the French team.
The Irish out-half said, “Racing wouldn’t know a lot about us. Joe (Schmidt) would have a good knowledge of them, having been in France for the last few years and Nathan Hines would know them well from being in Perpignan. We’ll concentrate a lot on them
this week.”
Leinster are not on form, but their pedigree and home advantage will be a major plus for them on Saturday.
The province will expect big games from their British and Irish Lions contingent and will hope that they can secure enough ball up front that the likes of Sexton, O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Rob Kearney can finish off moves.
In contrast Racing Metro will seek to gain an advantage in the forwards and will target the likes of Cian Healy in the scrum. The French side will look to dominate the forward battle and starve Leinster’s backs who are possibly the most dangerous in club
rugby.
This should be a close game, but Leinster may sneak a three point win if they can defend heroically for the 80 minutes.
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