THE LEAGUE TABLE will tell you that Leinster could lose with a bonus point this weekend and still top the RaboDirect Pro12 standings. However, to Leinster centre Gordon D’Arcy, Saturday’s match against Edinburgh is anything but a dead rubber.
The Scots were pummelled by Munster last Saturday but D’Arcy — his famous beard staging a post Six Nations comeback — believes Leinster would be lax to judge them on one poor outing. “A lot of teams won’t use the plays they used [the previous] week when they are away from home,” he said. “It’s very naïve to think that if they’ve played one game [in a certain style], that they’ll play the same the next week.
D’Arcy added, “They’ve obviously got a few guys moving on at the end of the season so they’ll want to finish on a high. Sometimes when you’re playing against a team with nothing to play for, it can be very, very hard in those games.
I remember playing Ulster in the RDS a couple of years ago. They had nothing to play for and sent down a young team but we made exceptionally hard work of that. That has happened before — we’ve lost to a Scarlets team that didn’t have one international in it — so we have to rise to the challenge and set the standard for the game.”
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D’Arcy featured in last Friday’s 22-20 win over 14-man Ulster and believes his teammates ‘played the percentages’ to win rather than overpowering their interpro rivals. He commented, “We were never in fear of not winning the game… Once we got the ball around halfway with two or three minutes to go, it is very difficult [for the opposition] to get the ball back. Particularly when the opposition pack has been playing against seven men and has changed its whole front row with about 50 minutes gone. You have to have a certain amount of confidence in your own ability.”
Leo Cullen at Leinster's training session at Rosemount. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
Leinster pride themselves on peaking for the run-in and D’Arcy says the squad are fine-tuning their head-space to treat the final games like knock-out rugby. “It’s about really gearing up; win the three games, you win the Pro12. It’s really pretty simple. It’s almost like a quarter-final, semi-final and final, the run-in. It’s a nice mentality to have, going into these games.”
The 34-year-old believes ‘the best way to honour’ departing stalwarts Brian O’Driscoll and Leo Cullen is to give them one last league winners’ medal to take into their retirement. “They’re good professionals so you kind of forget about the fact that it is their last game. You have to be selfish – you want to win the game,” he said.
“The best way to give a player the best send-off is to win the next three games. Win those three and then say ‘Hey, you’ve been a great servant to Leinster Rugby’. But you have to be that hungry, selfish player up until then. There is a greater reason for doing it but you have to stay professional.”
As for his successful midfield partnership, the Wexford man says he has been lucky to play 15 seasons at O’Driscoll’s side. “We’re both very competitive individuals and were both hungry for success in the green and blue jersey. That obviously helped when it came to a bit of longevity and the fact that we complement each other quite well in the centre.
“Our natural skill-sets dovetail quite well and that trust that we’ve built up happened quite quickly and has lasted a long time. I’ve said this before but once you have that trust you can do quite well, you can cover and you can create a lot of stuff.”
– Additional reporting by Cillian O’Conchuir @WordInSport
If Leinster win the rabbo “sure it’s only nothing league the Heineken is the only one that counts”
If Munster win the rabbo “it’s almost on a par with Europe and it shows we’re the best outside France”
Chris given leinster wear stars on their jersey representing European cup wins regardless of what competition they play in which do you believe they value most?
Also on the flipside of your dig at munster fan’s
When munster got knocked of the HEC in the pool stages by toulon and went to play in the Challenge cup it was something used by some leinster “fans ” as something to slag and denigrate munster fans over.
Last year it was suddenly been referred to as a “European ” throphy with leinster in it.
It all depends on your perspective /provisional bias I suppose
Hope all goes well for BOD but do remember who topped last year and what happened. Also two other provinces still involved, so a little update there rather than the D4 centric reporting we see here would be good!
Thanks Michael. Leinster had their press briefing yesterday. Ulster and Munster, and Connacht, have theirs today so I’m sure we will have stories from their camps over the course of the day, and tomorrow.
Gary you are proper boast Leinster might have won more Hein/cups than munster but munster are the most recogniseable team all over the world they are the team all the Southern Hemisphere players want to play with, I know you won’t agree but it’s true read the papers from that part of the world and you will see it in print.
What Rubbish Sean. Just because these thoughts exist in your head does not make them reality. In recent years Munster have consistently failed to sign ANY top SH players. Fact.
Sean, unlike you and Leinster rugby I have no issue with Munster rugby and I have no problem supporting them when they play foreign teams. My point is that this is an article about Leinster rugby and I’m fed up of some Munster supporters complaining about articles that are not Munster based.
Rubbish Jack Dee – all southern rugby players WANT to play against Munster and not the other provinces ! When was the last time, if ever, Leinster played NZ?
I’m sure Leinster (under JS) would have been delighted to have had a crack at the All Blacks. After all, the two times Ireland fielded an almost Leinster lineup they almost beat NZ. Anyway, do you think the players from the SH teams get to vote on which province they would like to play on the plane over? Don’t be silly.
So when have Leinster played the All Blacks not to mind best them?? I know Munster beat them but seriously have Leinster even played them – that’s Leinster not Ireland – Leinster!!!!!!
They played them in 1989 at Landsdowne Rd , I was at the game and still have the programme.
Leinster XV
Fergus Dunlea, John Sexton,Brendan Mullin,Paul Clinch,Peter Purcell , Brian Smith , Fergus Aherne, Paddy Kenny, Andy Blair, Kelvin Leahy,Neil Francis , Brian Rigney, Des Fitzgerald, Ned Kearney, Nick Popplewell
Subs:
Niall Farren, Alain Rolland , Vincent Cunningham,Gary Halpin , Bill Mulcahy , Chris Pimentel
New Zealand
Matthews Ridge, Tuigamala, Bernie Mc Cahill , Walter Little , John Timu, Frano Botica , Bruce Deans , Zinzan Brooke , Kevin Schuler , Andy Whetton , Gary Whetton , Ian Jones , Graham Purvis , Warren Gatland and Sean Mc Dowell
Subs :
John Gallagher, Craig Innes , Graeme Bachop , Andy Earl, Richard Loe , Sean Fitzpatrick
Some class players on both sides but especially Botica , Mc Dowell and Zinzan . I was disappointed however that John Schuster didnt play , pure class .
Munster didn’t need them Jack they have plenty home grown lads, who is going to replace Leo, it shouldn’t be too hard, as he wouldn’t tie Paul O Connells boots.
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I think everyone is missing the most important part of this story … The beard is back!!
One more Rabo Pro 12 will do nicely
Andrew don’t forget the other three teams nipping at their heels. We all know ye think ye are the best in Europe.
As opposed to the grounded Munsterfans
If Leinster win the rabbo “sure it’s only nothing league the Heineken is the only one that counts”
If Munster win the rabbo “it’s almost on a par with Europe and it shows we’re the best outside France”
Chris given leinster wear stars on their jersey representing European cup wins regardless of what competition they play in which do you believe they value most?
Also on the flipside of your dig at munster fan’s
When munster got knocked of the HEC in the pool stages by toulon and went to play in the Challenge cup it was something used by some leinster “fans ” as something to slag and denigrate munster fans over.
Last year it was suddenly been referred to as a “European ” throphy with leinster in it.
It all depends on your perspective /provisional bias I suppose
Some salt and vinegar to go with the chip Michael?
The Munster v Leinster whinging has hit fever pitch. Where’s the daycent banter gone? I hope Ulster take it now just to give ye all the shits!
Hope all goes well for BOD but do remember who topped last year and what happened. Also two other provinces still involved, so a little update there rather than the D4 centric reporting we see here would be good!
Thanks Michael. Leinster had their press briefing yesterday. Ulster and Munster, and Connacht, have theirs today so I’m sure we will have stories from their camps over the course of the day, and tomorrow.
Some Munster fans aren’t happy unless it’s 24/7 reporting on Munster only. It’s pathetic really.
What a lemon..
Gary you are proper boast Leinster might have won more Hein/cups than munster but munster are the most recogniseable team all over the world they are the team all the Southern Hemisphere players want to play with, I know you won’t agree but it’s true read the papers from that part of the world and you will see it in print.
What Rubbish Sean. Just because these thoughts exist in your head does not make them reality. In recent years Munster have consistently failed to sign ANY top SH players. Fact.
Sean, unlike you and Leinster rugby I have no issue with Munster rugby and I have no problem supporting them when they play foreign teams. My point is that this is an article about Leinster rugby and I’m fed up of some Munster supporters complaining about articles that are not Munster based.
Anyway, back to the beard and all its glory
Rubbish Jack Dee – all southern rugby players WANT to play against Munster and not the other provinces ! When was the last time, if ever, Leinster played NZ?
I’m sure Leinster (under JS) would have been delighted to have had a crack at the All Blacks. After all, the two times Ireland fielded an almost Leinster lineup they almost beat NZ. Anyway, do you think the players from the SH teams get to vote on which province they would like to play on the plane over? Don’t be silly.
Almost never beat the All Blacks
So when have Leinster played the All Blacks not to mind best them?? I know Munster beat them but seriously have Leinster even played them – that’s Leinster not Ireland – Leinster!!!!!!
They played them in 1989 at Landsdowne Rd , I was at the game and still have the programme.
Leinster XV
Fergus Dunlea, John Sexton,Brendan Mullin,Paul Clinch,Peter Purcell , Brian Smith , Fergus Aherne, Paddy Kenny, Andy Blair, Kelvin Leahy,Neil Francis , Brian Rigney, Des Fitzgerald, Ned Kearney, Nick Popplewell
Subs:
Niall Farren, Alain Rolland , Vincent Cunningham,Gary Halpin , Bill Mulcahy , Chris Pimentel
New Zealand
Matthews Ridge, Tuigamala, Bernie Mc Cahill , Walter Little , John Timu, Frano Botica , Bruce Deans , Zinzan Brooke , Kevin Schuler , Andy Whetton , Gary Whetton , Ian Jones , Graham Purvis , Warren Gatland and Sean Mc Dowell
Subs :
John Gallagher, Craig Innes , Graeme Bachop , Andy Earl, Richard Loe , Sean Fitzpatrick
Some class players on both sides but especially Botica , Mc Dowell and Zinzan . I was disappointed however that John Schuster didnt play , pure class .
Happy ?
Score ?
Munster didn’t need them Jack they have plenty home grown lads, who is going to replace Leo, it shouldn’t be too hard, as he wouldn’t tie Paul O Connells boots.
Hear hear flash it’s the boys from Dublin 4 in cuckoo land talking rubbish, in their dub 4 accents.
http://forum.rojadirecta.es/showthread.php?212354-RUGBY-1989-Test-Match-M9-Leinster-New-Zealand-08-11-1989
Watch it and tell me
Thought you were at it ?? Why would I watch Leinster get stuffed by NZ for 80 minutes or so!!
Ever heard of Google ?
http://forum.rojadirecta.es/showthread.php?212354-RUGBY-1989-Test-Match-M9-Leinster-New-Zealand-08-11-1989
See for yourself !