Callow Leinster at risk of losing control of their own destiny in URC

Not so long ago it seemed like Leinster could roll out any team from their squad and get a result in this tournament.

However, that seems like a memory now that the South African big-hitters are on the scene, and last week’s shellacking in Johannesburg has undermined confidence in the province’s second string.

They have an All Black in their backline and Samoa, Ireland and South Africa internationals among their forwards, but they’re up against it in Cape Town this evening.

The Stormers are down bodies after their defeat to La Rochelle took a major toll three weeks ago and last week’s home loss to Ospreys was a shock, but John Dobson’s men have next week off and so go as strong as they can.

They’ve a couple of World Cup winners in their starting line-up and on the bench, while they have plenty to play for given they are sixth in the table.

Like all the South African teams, however, they won’t have to leave their home country for the remaining regular-season games and don’t have any Champions Cup distractions.

Thus, this is their singular focus.

By leaving their first team at home and sending Jacques Nienaber and Andrew Goodman back to join them, Leinster have sent a clear message about where their priorities lie.

Croke Park will have to wait, however, and you’d feel that anyone hoping to play there next week could do with a big performance here.

Charlie Ngatai, Michael Milne, Michael Ala’alatoa and Jason Jenkins would all have a chance, while Cian Healy, Ross Molony and Harry Byrne are conspicuous by their absence.

Last week’s heavy defeat to the Lions has undermined their own confidence, but it also gave Leo Cullen a clear focus.

“We’ve seen plenty of the Stormers, in terms of footage,” he said.

“They’re a bloody good team, they lost a few players in that game against La Rochelle . . . I know they made some changes going into the Ospreys game, they’re a good team, a lot of X-factor players, a strong set-piece with [Frans] Malherbe at tighthead and he was captain at the weekend.

“It’s a bit of an indication of their mindset, so it will be a good test for our guys and yeah, overall, they’re a good team.

“Manie Libbok at 10 is a very, very dangerous ball-player, they have Damian Willemse who is a great ball-player. Warrick Gelant at 15, he’s also a dangerous ball-player. It’s a great challenge for our guys.”

Henry McErlean, Sam Prendergast, debutant Gus McCarthy, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Diarmuid Mangan and Fintan Gunne were in Cape Town for the U-20s World Cup less than a year ago, that quintet’s presence is a reminder of the callowness of this Leinster squad.

They’re all big talents but this is big-boy stuff and they’ll need to step up to keep Leinster in control of their URC destiny.

Verdict: Stormers

STORMERS: W Gelant; S Hartzenberg, D du Plessis, D Willemse, B Loader; M Libbok, H Jantjies; B Harris, J Dweba, N Fouche; S Moerat (capt), R van Heerden; M Theunissen, BJ Dixon, E Roos. Reps: AH Venter, K Blose, F Malherbe, C Evans, W Engelbrecht, H Dayimani, S Ungerer, W SImelane.

LEINSTER: H McErlean; L Turner, B Brownlee, C Ngatai, R Russell; S Prendergast, C Foley; M Milne, J McKee, M Ala’alatoa; B Deeny, J Jenkins; R Ruddock, S Penny (capt), Max Deegan. Reps: G McCarthy, E Byrne, T Clarkson, C O’Tighearnaigh, D Mangan, F Gunne, C Tector, M Moloney.

REF: A Piardi (Italy).

Stormers v Leinster,

Live, TG4/Premier Sports, 6.05

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