Richardt Strauss looks ahead to a crucial match in Leinster’s hunt for a top four finish in the Guinness PRO12 against Glasgow Warrors in the RDS Arena this Friday (KO 7.35pm).
A win on Friday evening against Glasgow Warriors would see Leinster move back into the top four in the Guinness PRO12 table for at least 24 hours.
Defeat to Scarlets last time out for Leinster saw Ospreys move into fourth spot on 51 points with a win over Munster at the Liberty Stadium.
Speaking earlier this week in Leinster HQ, Richardt Strauss spoke about the importance of that top four finish for the squad.
“It’s massive for us to get back into (the top four) and to be in it at the end of the season, and obviously next weekend we’ve got another big game.
“We’re just going to try and go out and win. I think everybody in the league wants to get into the top four, if not that then the top six for Europe next year. For us this weekend it’s just to go out and win the game.”
Standing in Leinster’s way this Friday will be a Glasgow side that is four points clear at the top of the table and will be looking to increase that margin this weekend and cement their place in the top four.
“I think everybody that watches the league would know that Glasgow are on top and they deserve to be on top. We’ll probably have to be very, very good to get anywhere near them. Hopefully we can put out a performance that challenges them this weekend.”
After Glasgow comes the Champions Cup Quarter-Final in the Aviva Stadium against Bath. A big game, but one that can’t distract from the job in front of the squad in the RDS on Friday night.
“We’ve got a big game this weekend, we’ve to focus on that and forget about next weekend. We’ll look at that when that comes.”
With the Bath match just a few days away, though, Strauss says it will be great to have players returning from international duty in a rich vein of form after retaining the 6 Nations title with Ireland.
“It will be great to have them back, especially Seanie (O’Brien) and Cian (Healy) getting some form now. You couldn’t ask for a better time for them to get back in the team.
“They’re both professionals, they’ve been around the environment quite long, they know everybody pretty well, so I can’t see them having a problem slotting into what we’re trying to do.”
On a personal level, Strauss isn’t thinking about international selection and casting glances towards this year’s World Cup just yet with plenty still left to achieve this season with Leinster.
“For me it’s obviously just, first, to get back into the Leinster team. I wouldn’t take it too far, (the World Cup) is still a couple of months away and we’ve got a lot of work to do before then with Leinster, so we’ll focus on that and then push for the World Cup when that comes around.”
Click here to see Leinster face Glasgow Warriors in the RDS Arena this Friday at 7.35pm.
Leinster v Bath at Aviva Stadium is just a few days away. Click here for tickets.
