Leinster looking to bounce back after trophyless season

LEINSTER

It says a lot about the standards Leinster have set for themselves that a Champions Cup final appearance and a URC semi-final simply doesn't cut it.

Having been their usual dominant selves throughout the regular season, Leo Cullen's side were given two reality checks within the space of 13 days, losing the Champions Cup final to La Rochelle in dramatic circumstances before a limp showing against the Bulls in their URC semi-final at the RDS.

The way in which their season petered out has clearly been a concern for the head coach, but they only have to look back on their 2017/18 campaign for a reminder of what happened the last time they had a trophyless season.

On that occasion they dominated all around them, picking up a league and European double. No pressure.

It's not disrespectful to suggest the fixture list has been kind to them with games against Zebre Parma and Benetton to start with, before they get into the meatier Interpros. Even their clash with the Sharks in Round 3 will see the South Africans without a large portion of their Springbok contingent.

With Felipe Contepomi and Denis Leamy departing the senior ticket over the summer, Cullen has drafted in former Leinster players Andrew Goodman and Sean O'Brien to fill the attack and contact skills coaching roles, while former Leitrim and Dublin footballer Declan Darcy has also been recruited as 'performance coach', having worked with the province in an informal capacity last year.

LEINSTER PLAYER PROFILES

As usual, a big challenge will be juggling Leinster's stacked squad, and keeping players involved over the now shortened BTK United Rugby Championship.

Ciarán Frawley's involvement as an out-half for Ireland A in the summer could see him used more in that position