"They've got certain individuals" – Leinster coach singles out Toulon stars ahead of Champions Cup semi-final

While Leinster fell to defeat in the URC at the weekend to Benetton, Toulon continued to climb their way up the Top 14 table following a 52-26 victory over Bayonne.

During their victory over the 12th-placed side, Pierre Mignoni benched a number of starters, including the likes of Charles Ollivon, David Ribbans, Ben White, and Junior Kpoku, who all started the French side's quarter-final victory over Glasgow. During yesterday's media session, McBryde spoke about the potential threats of each of these players.

"Yeah, it's going to be a challenge for us, but I'm going to be looking forward to meeting it head-on. When you analyze the game and look at where they're strong, they've got an open side (Esteban Abadie), I'm not going to risk trying to pronounce his name, but there's an open side who's got the most steals, the most lineout takes in the top 14."

"And alongside Ollivon, who's a menace in the area as well. So, yeah, they've got certain individuals that warrant a little bit more attention. They've got Ribbans, and you've got Ollivon as well, so there's a diversity around where some of these players have come from, and they all play a role to create that style of game that they've got really."

Ahead of this weekend's semi-final, Leinster will be without Ryan Baird, who suffered an injury during the province's quarter-final victory over the Sale Sharks. The Ireland star had just returned in the previous round following a prolonged period on the sideline. Additionally, the medical staff will be weighing up a decision on Tadgh Furlong and Andrew Porter, who may both miss out.

"Ryan (Baird) as an individual brings a lot of energy, and on the back of his performance in the most recent game before his injury, I thought he was excellent. Just because of the amount of work that he puts into things off the field. So a lot of detail he was into, analyzing, etc. He was able to transfer that over the field. I feel for Ryan. He's in and around the building, so he's contributing when he can."

Porter has been out since the Champions Cup clash with Edinburgh at the start of this month, while Furlong suffered an injury at the weekend, which saw him leave the field. Currently, Thomas Clarkson and Ed Byrne look poised to start in the event that neither of the Ireland internationals can play at the weekend.

"I mean, unless somebody's 100% fit, you're not going to risk it. Especially with the history of the injuries with Tadgh, any sort of small feeling or whatever. So it's just making sure that everybody's on top of everything and we don't put anybody at risk. Hopefully, it'll be nothing major, and we'll see him back sooner rather than later."

"It hasn't been a smooth run for us this season with front rowers, but everybody stepped up, and they played a part there, with Alex Usunov as well. It's just unfortunate for Alex; the injuries have come at the wrong time for him. But, having Ed (Byrne) back with us has been great, really."

While Leinster may be without a number of experienced internationals this weekend, a recent update yesterday revealed that international star James Lowe may be back in time for this weekend's clash after an injury suffered during the Six Nations. Additionally, Jordan Larmour may also be in line for a return. Ireland star Tommy O'Brien spoke about the importance of their return.

"Yeah, it's fantastic, I mean, coming to the business end of the season now, you want to be pushing each other and pushing each other as much as possible, having your training standards as high as possible, the teams that you're playing in at this time of year are all going to be unbelievably high quality."

"So the fact that we can simulate that in training and get training reps against unbelievable players like that, coming into the mix. Obviously, there are a lot of people who've played a lot of games as well, so people can come into the team, bring that energy and kind of excitement, who have been maybe sitting on the sidelines for a while as well."

After being named as one of Ireland's best performers of the 2026 Six Nations by Ruck, O'Brien has had one of the best seasons of his career to date. After almost retiring following an injury in the 2024/25 season, O'Brien earned his first Ireland caps in Georgia and Portugal last year. Enjoying the first injury-free spell of his career, the Leinster winger has become a mainstay at both test and club level.

"It's why you play the game, it's for these kinds of days. The ability, as I said, to get a run of games, really enjoying my rugby at the moment, really enjoying loads of the semi-finals and finals I would have watched from the stands, whether I've been injured or not selected throughout the year."

"I used to probably get quite nervous. And the ability to just say listen, I'm going to try things. I kind of boost my skills and stuff like that, and maybe I would have been scared to make mistakes, and now I'm kind of more willing to express myself, and then obviously when you play games, you get the confidence from playing games"

Another Ireland star who spoke about the importance of the potential returns of Lowe and Larmour, Garry Ringrose has been in and out of the team at club level following the signing of All Blacks star Reiko Ioane at the start of the season. After missing out on Leinster's Round of 16 clash against Edinburgh, the Leinster center returned to the team against Sale.

"Yeah, it's been brilliant, I mean, there's enough competition amongst the outside backs and centers. It's been unbelievable the impact he's had on the pitch for us has been exceptional for us and everyone to raise their game on the weekend but also raise their game during the weektraining so yeah it's been pretty cool to get a chance to play with him."

"It's unbelievably exciting, I guess, reflecting a little bit on the effort that goes in from the whole organization in terms of players, maybe some players that haven't been involved but have helped prepare the team each week and staff, medical team, coaches, the lot so a lot of work goes into hopefully get to a point like this and now that we're here, yeah it's unbelievably exciting."