Ireland's Six Nations-winning captain Paul O'Connell thinks Leinster have "found their rhythm" after last week's madcap draw with Glasgow, and has tipped his old rivals to get the better of Bath tomorrow.
The Champions Cup quarter-final at the Aviva will be broadcast live on Off The Ball and the Munster lock has backed his compatriots to reach the last four following their 34-34 come-from-behind draw at the RDS last Friday night.
"I think [Leinster] will win," O'Connell, speaking to promote a Team Limerick Clean-up day, told Newstalk's Kieran Cuddihy on Breakfast this morning. "Bath are an excellent side, it's going to be a great game, but home advantage ... I think they played really well last week when they came back.
"Once they went [27-7] down against Glasgow, it just seemed to spark the old Leinster back into gear. They really put on an unbelievable performance for the rest of the game.
"Probably disappointment to concede the late try, but I think they've found their rhythm now.
"The addition of Jamie [Heaslip], Sean O'Brien and a few others back into the team - I'd be confident if I was Leinster."
Thank you @LimerickFCie & Manager Martin Russell, players & Pat O'Sullivan for their support #TLC #Cleanup pic.twitter.com/0RDT42zgUj
— TLC (@TLC_Limerick) April 3, 2015
On the home front, the RBS Player of the Championship is optimistic Munster can build on an exciting crop of players come through the ranks despite their exit from Europe at the group stages this season.
The Southerners have been described as a team in transition over the past couple of campaigns, but O'Connell doesn't buy it.
"People have been saying that about us for a long time now," said O'Connell, "and there comes a time when you have you have to stop being a team in transition and just being a team.
"We've some lovely young players coming through, Jack O'Donoghue's been playing the last number of weeks while Peter O'Mahony's been away. He's a former captain of the Irish Under-20s. He's a terrific player, he's going to be a great addition to the squad.
"There's other young guys coming into the team as well. Hopefully these young guys allow us to step up next year."
Team #TLC out in force across #Limerick today thank you everyone @gardainfo pic.twitter.com/qNXKJaEWom
— TLC (@TLC_Limerick) April 3, 2015
He added: "It's more competitive than it ever was with the money the French teams have, the English teams have. It's a big challenge but it's an exciting challenge for Munster."
As for his own future - with retirement from playing on the horizon this year or next - O'Connell laughed off running for the General Election in 2016. "That doesn't interest me at all!" said the Limerick native.
O'Connell was on the line to talk about an initiative to clean up his home city, the idea of which he said came "over a cup of coffee" with JP McManus and Limerick Tidy Towns chairperson Helen O’Donnell.
Newstalk's Kieren Cuddihy opened by asking Paul about a litter-picking initiative in Limerick...
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
