With news of a plethora of quality backs (Rob Kearney, Brian O’Driscoll, Luke Fitzgerald, Eoin O’Malley and Dave Kearney) returning to the Leinster ranks this week, it is easy to overlook some crucial absentees. Thing is, they werent missed. There was once a time when a Leinster squad without Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin over the Christmas period would almost guarantee defeat.

“Shane Jennings felt nauseous last night and didn’t make it through the warm up,” said Joe Schmidt. “Dominic Ryan stepped straight in a delivered a smashing first up tackle that forced a turn over.

“Kev actually hurt his shoulder in the warm-up before Ulster and through that 40 minutes it actually became more and more uncomfortable. He is in good fettle. He is due to do contact on Monday.”

The established duo are due to return but the Jordi Murphy, Rhys Ruddock and Dominic Ryan axis of power will not be so quick to step aside. Interesting bottle neck forming in the Leinster backrow area.