Caelan Doris, the Leinster captain, is determined to channel the hurt of the team's recent Champions Cup defeat into a powerful force for the upcoming match. The players and coaching staff are eager to put the Northampton loss behind them and move forward. With nine of the starting XV and 14 of the match-day 23 players returning, including Caelan Doris, Joe McCarthy, and Jack Conan, the team is ready to face the challenges ahead. Doris, in particular, is motivated to overcome the shoulder injury that sidelined him for six months and ruled him out of the Lions tour. He embraces the opportunity to turn the defeat into a catalyst for improvement, rather than a burden.
"I think it’s there, not in a burden sort of way that weighs you back, but you want it to give you a little bit of edge," he said. "And in terms of making a personal chip on the shoulder, but not in a negative, holding-us-back way."
The team's performance against the Harlequins showcased their resilience and determination. Despite a "sloppy" start, they recognized the need for improvement, especially with a challenging six-day turnaround ahead of them at Leicester. Doris highlighted the importance of discipline and mentality, especially in the hostile environment of Welford Road.
"Discipline is going to be important for us. That’s a big improvement area going into next week," he added. "But it’s a different challenge, even being away at Welford Road, kind of hostile environments ... short training week, so we’re going to need to get discipline right and mentality right."
The Leinster team's familiarity with Leicester, due to their frequent meetings in recent seasons, adds an extra layer of complexity to the upcoming match. Doris acknowledges the "old-school vibe" of Leicester's playing style, emphasizing the importance of set-piece dominance and strong ball carriers. The team is prepared to face the challenges head-on, using the hurt of the defeat as a driving force for success.
