Skipper Rhys Ruddock says Leinster can ill-afford to forget the danger of losing focus while playing South African sides in their own backyards, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
Ruddock will captain a 31-man Leinster squad without a host of Ireland internationals for a two-match tour of SA in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. All but assured of a home playoff spot, the URC leaders will face the Sharks on Saturday at Kings Park, before taking on the Stormers in Cape Town next week.
In 2017, Leinster recorded a convincing 31-10 victory over the Southern Kings in the PRO14 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, having already smashed the Kings 64-10 in Dublin.
But, the Irish side were sent home with their tails between their legs after they were blown away 38-19 by the Free State Cheetahs a week later. Leo Cullen’s men had six Ireland internationals in their pack, yet were bullied in the tackle zone and at the breakdown by the Free Staters.
Ruddock – who played off the bench against the Cheetahs – says the defeat in Bloemfontein was a wake-up call for the Irish on travelling, and competing, on the African continent.
Ahead of Saturday’s URC clash with the Sharks in Durban, the skipper said: “I played both games and it was really tough, and of the lessons from playing those teams was that playing them home and away was completely different.
“It was also definitely a lesson on building connection and using time wisely and building cohesion off the field. Not getting drawn into the distractions of being on the road … learned that from the Cheetahs game especially.”
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Cullen added: “As we experienced with the Cheetahs game, we’re wary of letting the game get away from us because as we’ve seen how the scores can add up in SA.”
Leinster arrived in SA on the back of a resounding win over rivals Connacht in the Champions Cup, yet Ruddock says the result will have little bearing on the Sharks encounter.
The 27-cap loose forward added: “Connacht had a very good attack, one of the best … Sharks will present different challenges and we need to make the adjustments. They have an unbelievably strong set piece, as well as strong maul and kicking game.”
Cullen agreed, yet the Leinster boss is seemingly more wary of the inclement conditions in Durban: “Some guys have been looking at Sharks [match] tapes and how to beat them; they’re very physical with that front row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Thomas du Toit.
“But the conditions have more of our attention at the moment. The Sharks play into those conditions, with their kicking game and especially at the contact point.
“It rained when we landed, and then it was sunny, and looks like it could be raining again the weekend, but we’re at least well acclimatised for that. With humidity, though, the environment could be a bit alien to us.”
