Navan coach opts for French side in semi-final clash

Navan coach Ray Moloney is opting for La Rochelle to win tomorrow's European Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster at the Stade Marcel Deflandre, 3pm.

Moloney, who is from Tipperary, believes the French said who are coched by another Munster man, Ronan O'Gara, will have too much power and pace for the Blues.

"I think La Rochelle will win that one, they are a bit more physical, there's a bit more about them but then again I'm a Munster man so I'm always going to bet against Leinster!" he said.

"No look I think Leinster could be really up against it especially with Sexton out as well. They will miss that leadership.

"Looking back on last week's game against Munster in the Rainbow Cup Leinster didn't have much leadership there. I know they had a few of their top players missing but yeah without Sexton they are a different team altogether. "

Moloney says that the Leinster team - which includes Devin Toner - will have to somehow diminish the effectivness of the giant La Rochelle pack.

"It's is very difficult against a team like La Rochelle because they can bring their off-loading game in as well. Even bringing line-speed into your game you are getting contact when off-loading in the tackle so it's tricky for Leinster.

"I would imagine Leinster are going to play a lot of rushed defence and kicking the ball down the field. I don't think they will match La Rochelle physically."

On the local front Moloney says it will more than likely it will be July before Navan start preparing for a new season in the AIL.

"It's just a little bit dangerous at the moment with players been off now for nearly a year in terms of going back now, building up fitness and then face into a long season so we are just going to leave it until the start of the new season, do a normal pre-season, which would mean us starting back again in July."

Moloney added that some of the Navan players are adhering to their own individual fitness programmes.

The Leinster team to play La Rochelle tomorrow is: Hugo Keenan, Jordan Laramour, Gary Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Josh Van Der Flier, Jack Conan.