The scrum battle took centre stage again ahead of Friday night’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final at Croke Park in Dublin with the news that Ireland test prop Andrew Porter will miss the game, and two other stars are struggling for fitness.
Key players Caelan Doris, who captains the team and hooker Dan Sheehan both are doubtful for the final with Leinster only set to make a decision before the game.
Doris picked up a knee injury in the win over the Stormers while Sheehan missed the last-four tie.
Porter had a calf injury and will want to be fit for Ireland’s Nations Championship campaign in July.
Leinster forwards coach Robin McBryde admits it isn’t a good thing, but says they will manage it well ahead of the showdown with the Bulls.
“It’s not ideal but what it does is it grounds you as a coach because there are certain things that maybe you would want to do but because of an injury or whatever you have got to stick to what is going to count and priorities,” he explained.
“It does help you prioritise and Friday night is no different. It’s the basics. You know they are going to come after you in the tighter aspects – the scrum, the lineout maul – so it would be foolish to look any further than that from a setpiece point of view.”
And Leinster know the Bulls have a scrum as an attacking weapon and will want to use it at Croke Park. That in itself is a massive challenge and one the defending champs are looking forward to.
“I had a great conversation with Rabah Slimani last week. He said, ‘When you look at your opposite number, if he doesn't meet you eye-to-eye, if he goes early, if he doesn't respect the referee's commands, it just shows you he's scared.
“So we can't be scared. We've got to meet them head-on and go for it. And that's what we'll do.”
Thomas Clarkson stepped in when Tadgh Furlong was ruled out before last year’s final and Leinster handled it well. The same principle applies here.
“TC stepped in and again he is maturing as a player,” said McBryde. “It's surprising sometimes when somebody's given an opportunity, how well they do. And if they hadn't had that opportunity, where would they be and all those things.”
But that doesn’t mean Leinster aren’t wary of their opponents.
“They play a lot more [than the Stormers], their attacking game has grown and they do their best to keep the ball alive.
“They’re still as potent, setpiece-wise, but there’s a general shift in their attitude, approach to keeping the ball alive, playing with tempo and staying on the front-foot with momentum.”
Leinster will go into the game as odds-on favourites.