JAMES RYAN insisted Leinster will not throw the baby out with the Bath-water this evening.
Ross Molony was one of the province’s main lineout callers before leaving for the English side last summer and he will have a reunion against his old mates when the Premiership leaders take on the URC table-toppers in the Champions Cup at the Aviva Stadium.
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Ryan during their Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 match vs La Rochelle
Robbie Henshaw had suggested that the forwards might try to change things up to ensure his insider knowledge does not amount to much.
But Ryan reckons there was not enough time since their last game against La Rochelle on Sunday to try to introduce a list of new calls for this fixture.
Ryan said: “By all accounts he’s loving it over there, he’s really enjoying it.
“He’s someone who has an understanding of what we do here, in terms of lineouts and so on. So we have to be conscious of that.
“You don’t want to change too much, particularly when you are playing on a Sunday and have to go again on a Saturday.
“It’s just getting that balance right between introducing too much but also keeping a bit of continuity because you lose a day.
“We haven’t thrown in a huge amount of change but we’ve tweaked a few little things here and there.”
The second row says Leo Cullen’s side know from experience how tough it can be to extract a good performance in the second of two games in quick succession.
He said: “We had a six-day turnaround after Bristol when we played Clermont.
“We were a little bit off, we felt, in that performance.
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“So that’s been the big focus, yeah, we had a good win at the weekend but, again, it’s a six-day turnaround and we have to make sure that we get our mindset right to perform on Saturday.
“That’s the thing about rugby, it goes well for you at the weekend but Monday comes around very quickly and all of a sudden you’re thinking about who you have next.
“You kind of start from zero again and you’ve to earn the right to perform by getting your prep done and so on. It’s about turning the page.”
PLAYING VAN GRAAN-D
Johann van Graan may not have enjoyed much success at Munster but he has earned plaudits for how he has revitalised the fortunes of the Somerset outfit.
And Ryan said: “I think they’re a well-balanced side.
“They’re strong up front, they’ve got a good set-piece but also they play a pretty entertaining brand of rugby, they like to throw the ball around.
“Obviously with Finn Russell there, he will back himself to play.
“Guys like Joe Cokanasiga have got good pace as well in terms of their outside backs.
“Yeah, they’re a pretty well- balanced team that like to have a crack, like to play, so I’d say very different to La Rochelle.
“It’s a big challenge again defensively, to be connected and all over it.”
TEAM NEWS
Cullen has shaken up his team with five changes from the win in France.
Hugo Keenan comes in at full-back for his first start since October.
That sees Jordie Barrett switching to his preferred position of inside centre, next to Henshaw with Garry Ringrose shifted over to the wing.
Keenan is the only change among the backs, with two apiece in the front row and back row.
Rabah Slimani and Andrew Porter are the starting props instead of Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong.
Jack Conan replaces Caelan Doris at No 8 and captains the side with Max Deegan in for Ryan Baird.
Neither Baird, Furlong nor Dan Sheehan — who was included in the Ireland Six Nations squad this week — are among the replacements but Cullen downplayed any fitness concerns over the trio.
The Leinster chief said: “We’re going to have a couple of conversations after this weekend in terms of what do Ireland want out of our game next week against the Stormers.
“Maybe some of those guys who haven’t featured in this game will possibly feature in that game next week.”
LEINSTER: H Keenan; G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Barrett, J Osborne; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, R Slimani; J McCarthy, J Ryan; M Deegan, J van der Flier, J Conan.
Reps: G McCarthy, C Healy, T Clarkson, RG Snyman. C Doris, L McGrath, R Byrne, T O’Brien.
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