Conan: ‘We know how much of a challenge that will be next week if we don’t up the stakes again’
After returning to the Leinster fold with a strong performance on Saturday, Ireland international Jack Conan is now primed to take on a familiar foe in the knockout rounds of the Heineken Champions Cup this weekend.
In his first outing for the province since appearing as a late replacement in a European pool stage win over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on January 20, the Wicklow man claimed a second half try to cap a player of the match display in Leinster’s 47-14 triumph over The Bulls at the RDS in the United Rugby Championship.
Having already faced them in that aforementioned duel earlier this year – as well as at the quarter-final stage in the past two editions of the competition – the Blues will once again renew acquaintances with Leicester in a Champions Cup Round of 16 affair at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.
While acknowledging there is an advantage that comes with knowing their forthcoming opponents so intimately, Cullen admitted it may also be of benefit to the English Premiership outfit.
“I think it’s always nice knowing your opposition a little bit. It can be difficult when you haven’t played a team before or haven’t played them in a few years. We’re familiar enough with them, but also they’re familiar with us,” Conan remarked in the aftermath of the Bulls game.
“It just means you can’t rest on your laurels. You have to go back to basics and keep on mastering those aspects of the game. Some of our set-piece stuff today wasn’t perfect at times and we know how much of a challenge that will be next week if we don’t up the stakes again and up our levels.
“We obviously knew what it was like after playing them a few weeks ago over there in Welford Road, so we’re under no illusions.”