At the outset of the pool stage of the Champions Cup, Leinster's chances of coming through were slim. And following their overwhelming defeat to Bath last week, navigating a way out of group is teetering into the realms of unlikelihood.
That's the assessment of former rugby professional Alan Quinlan who believes that victory against Bath at the Recreation Ground, could be the potential launchpad for Leo Cullen and his side.
Writing in the Irish Independent today, Quinlan states:
"This week I'll play the Grim Reaper and say Leinster's chances of exiting the pool stages are slim after their defeat to Wasps. I have no doubt that we'll see Leinster respond today though. All week they'll have been at each other's throats in training, we'll definitely see a lift in energy and intent against Bath. I just wonder will we see the quality lifted as well".
On reviewing the game against Wasps last weekend the Munster native points out that Leinster's failure to capitalise on their home advantage as well as losing their grip of the bonus point that was on offer, could leave them some what deficient heading into the game against Bath.
Can Leinster turn it around in the space of 6 days? We've exclusive coverage of Bath v Leinster with Wood, Toland and @DaveMcIntyreNT
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) November 21, 2015
"Having not even earned a bonus point from that game at the RDS, they now face an almost impossible challenge. Last week's result adds more credence to the argument that English Premiership sides are beginning to overtake the Irish provinces.
"When I asked myself what went wrong for Leinster last weekend a few things were clear. The fact that last weekend's side hadn't played together as a unit this season was a problem. Yes, they had plenty of Ireland players back and 15 internationals started, but Cullen's Leinster set-up is not a carbon copy of Joe Schmidt's Ireland. Much of the blame for last year's poor results was placed at Matt O'Connor's door, but maybe the problem is a bit closer to home. Have Leinster the quality players they once had?".
Quinlan goes on to state that Ireland's success at club level is no longer centred on Leinster to the extent that it once was considering that thy have not secured any notable success in Europe since 2012. And the traits which Leinster were renowned for in the past were notably absent last weekend.
#rbs6nations Alan Quinlan's RBS 6 Nations #TopMoment http://t.co/IVxtU4s4hT pic.twitter.com/Lg1cWDfdwL
— RBS 6 Nations (@rbs_6_nations) February 9, 2015
"The Leinster skill-set and execution that brought them such success in Europe in the last few years wasn't evident last Sunday and has not been seen for some time. Even the basics of the game: their passing, kicking and catching were not as fluid as they once were.
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, tough day at the office for Leinster today v Wasps. #LEINvWAS pic.twitter.com/tUFtBfeQpM
— Ramsey Cardy (@ramseycardy) November 15, 2015
"Between retirements and injury, Leinster were shorn of some of their on-field leaders last week. Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin are experienced voids to fill. Yes, Johnny Sexton and Isa Nacewa are back, but Sexton had a tough World Cup and Nacewa was out injured. Add into that add the injured Rob Kearney (right), Ben Te'o and Luke Fitzgerald and you see some reasons for a drop-off in quality".
TRY! Dave Kearney misjudges a bouncing ball and Christian Wade swoops in! Wasps lead 16-6! #LEINvWAS #ERCC https://t.co/q0gfbeAY7F
— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) November 15, 2015
Several pundits cited post-world cup fatigue as a possible reason for Leinster's meltdown last week, a plight which Quinlan can recall from his own playing days. But he issues a cautious word about the need for Leinster to shake off those hankerings if they are going to have a chance of rescuing their season.
"I'm sure every Ireland player has struggled to get their focus back on their provincial duties - I always found it tough to flick a switch and leave club or international woes behind when I swapped squads like that. But because Leinster have so many more players affected by that setback than the other provinces, perhaps that explains the lead-footed display.
"Despite suffering a record home defeat in Europe so recently I don't think there is a need for panic yet, but there is cause for concern. The players have to suck it up, get over their recent setbacks and get back to winning ways".
