Fine line between 'battle-hardened and battle-weary', says Robin McBryde of Leinster lay-off

Leinster's result against Northampton on Saturday will determine if their approach to the Investec Champions Cup semi-final was correct, says Robin McBryde.

Leo Cullen's squad travelled to South Africa for a BKT URC double-header against the Lions and the Stormers minus a number of regular European starters.

They lost both games without picking up a bonus point with the majority of frontliners preparing for the weekend’s Croke Park clash in Dublin.

Meanwhile, Premiership leaders Northampton went toe-to-toe with Harlequins, who face Toulouse in the other semi-final on Sunday, at Twickenham, eventually losing a highly entertaining tie 41-32.

"The result will dictate whether we could have done things a little differently really," assistant coach McBryde told RTÉ Sport.

"It’s a fine line between being battle-hardened and battle-weary.

"A lot of those players would have played a high number of minutes during the Six Nations so yeah, the result on Saturday will dictate whether we got things right or not?

"Each individual is different. Some players, especially the big-game players, they are not interested in some of the week-in, week-out stuff.

"They want to be on the big stage, they get energised by being on the big stage.

To them the level of opposition warrants a reaction from them and they want to be tested against the best.

"From my experience, coaching experience as well, you know the players, even during the week, they’ve got so much confidence in their own ability they’ll just turn it on on a Saturday.

"Not everyone can do that. You've got to earn the right to do that.

"They are able to sharpen their tools at training and just turn it on on a Saturday, you get those players."

Phil Dowson’s Saints won all four Pool 3 games, and beat