Conan: Traditional Munster-Leinster St Stephen’s Day meeting could use a ‘freshen up’
It has been part of the rugby calendar for quite some time now, but Leinster back-row Jack Conan believes there is scope for change when it comes to their traditional Christmas duel with Munster at Thomond Park.
While the December 26th bouts between these two arch rivals in both 2020 and 2021 were ultimately rearranged due to issues brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, you have to go back to 2013 for the last time that Leinster weren’t initially scheduled to pay a visit to Limerick during the holiday season.
Not all of their festive clashes since then have been fixed on St Stephen’s Day, but that is the date for their latest meeting in the United Rugby Championship. Although he understands why Thomond is the port of call for their post-Christmas Day showdowns against Munster, the Wicklow man admitted the idea of taking on the southern province in the Aviva at this time of the year is an enticing one.
“I think it would be nice. This year is also funny, because you could play it on the Sunday or the Saturday. Then even if you had to train on the 26th, because then it obviously affects our fixtures afterwards. We are playing Ulster [on New Year’s Day], so a shorter turnaround, shorter weeks,” Conan remarked at a Leinster media briefing on Wednesday.
“I get that it’s obviously a massive spinner down there. It’s a sell-out, people love it. It’s nearly a bit of a tradition, but a change would be good. Every other year maybe, just to freshen it up a little bit. In saying that, I suppose it’s always been this way. Would it be a bit easier to go down to the Aviva on Stephen’s Day? It definitely would be, but it is what it is.”
Despite finding themselves hitting the road at this time of year for the umpteenth occasion, Conan acknowledged Tuesday’s game with the defending URC champions is one that he and Leinster will ultimately continue to embrace. It does mean he has to be reserved when it comes to Christmas Day, but it is a small price to pay from the Irish international’s point of view.
“I think lads love it. It’s definitely different, it’s a different week. I don’t want to say it’s a distraction because it’s a great week to be part of the 23 to get to play. There are challenges, because there is obviously a lot going on outside of rugby.
“Whereas normally, every other week, your entire energy and focus is just put into the performance. You’re obviously not going on the rip-roaring tear on the 23rd until the wee hours or anything like that, but you get to enjoy yourself.
“It’s important to take time to enjoy Christmas Day as much as you can, but then switch back in. Take a few minutes, go over your detail. Make sure you are ready to go on the 26th because when you go down there, it’s such a big day out for the club down there. Every single year.”
Even though he has clocked up 135 provincial appearances and 44 senior international caps (including three for the British & Irish Lions), Conan has suffered his share of injury setbacks throughout his professional career. More recently, the 31-year-old pulled his calf while doing a warm-up during Leinster’s dramatic URC victory over Connacht at The Sportsground in Galway on December 2nd.
Conan feels this may have stemmed from the foot injury he picked up in a World Cup warm-up game against Italy at the Aviva Stadium back in August, but having returned ahead of schedule to feature off the bench in the Champions Cup win over Sale Sharks last Saturday, he is hopeful of putting together a sustained run of games for Leinster.
“I look forward to starting and hopefully getting 80 minutes under my belt. I was really happy with how I went against Munster the last time around in the Aviva. I hadn’t played 80 minutes since May or something like that. It had been a long time but I felt great, felt fit. I was happy with my performance. It’s been a little bit frustrating, but it is what it is,” Conan added.