Stuart Lancaster: Ospreys battle perfect prep for Leinster ahead of Gloucester clash at Kingsholm

Leinster's tough test against Ospreys at the weekend was the perfect preparation for a difficult Heineken Champions Cup challenge against Gloucester this Saturday, according to senior coach Stuart Lancaster.

The province had to dig deep to get the better of Ospreys in the BKT United Rugby Championship last Saturday in Wales, with late tries proving pivotal in maintaning their unbeaten run.

Another away trip awaits, this time in European competition, as Leinster head to Kingsholm to face a Gloucester side who will be aiming to prove their mettle after their second-string side was decimated 57-0 in the reverse pool fixture in December.

"In terms of reality checks, I don't think that's the right phrase," Lancaster said of the Ospreys outcome as he spoke to RTÉ Sport.

"We played against an Ospreys team that beat Montpellier away, who just had a good derby win, (and are) full of internationals.

"We changed some of our team and (they are) a proud Welsh team playing at home so we knew it was going to be tough.

"It's probably exactly what we needed going into the West Country this week playing Gloucester at home. We were fortunate to be able to divert from Cardiff Airport to get to watch the Gloucester-Saracens game so it was nice to be able to go there and see that live.

"A lot of our players haven't been to Kingsholm before so to have that tough test away from home was perfect preparation and to come out the right side, to remain unbeaten this season, it meant a lot to us."

Gloucester have won one of their three fixtures since losing to Leinster at the RDS. But they were only narrowly edged out by three points via a last-minute Owen Farrell drop goal when Saracens visited in the Premiership at the weekend.

"I've made it clear (to our