RUGBY
BLUE MURDER
It’s all fine ‘n Andy
GOODMAN’S DELIGHT
Daire Walsh
ANDREW GOODMAN’S overriding emotion after Leinster’s win over La Rochelle was no surprise – happiness!
Once Leo Cullen’s side delivered what Goodman described as a ‘complete performance’ in Saturday’s 50-13 Champions Cup quarter-final triumph, the assistant coach was beaming.
Having suffered one semi-final and two final defeats to the French outfit in recent seasons, this second and most significant win over them in the current campaign set up a Croke Park semi-final with Northampton Saints.
Asked what he was feeling at full-time, Goodman said: “Just happiness really. I got asked a couple of times was it relief but I suppose the nature of the game is that last 20 minutes, we were a bit more relaxed.
“We were able to sit back and enjoy and just take in what I thought was a great performance from the 23 that were out there.
“It was happiness. It was a complete performance.
“We knew the physicality was going to be such a big thing in the game, both sides of the ball. The boys talked about it.
“They owned it from the start of the week with their language, but you can always do that and the great part for us as coaches and for the lads who didn’t get to play was to see them put it into action.”
Goodman was speaking to the media yesterday in UCD, shortly before it was announced that his fellow New Zealander Jordie Barrett will join the Blues in December on a deal that will bring him up to the end of the 2024/25 season.
While his move into Andy Farrell’s Ireland coaching set-up in the coming months means he will not get to work with the All Blacks superstar, Dan Sheehan is someone Goodman should see plenty of in the next few years.
The hooker, a try-scorer against La Rochelle, has inked a new two-year contract for Ireland and Leinster and, impressed by his prowess in open play, Goodman would not be surprised to see him star in other positions.
He added: “I’ve said to Leo before, if we ever get a number of injuries, I wouldn’t hesitate to put him in a 12 jersey. He’s got the skill set.
“He’s just one of those guys who seems to be able to catch and pass off both sides, offload. Also his sense around the game, where he pops up and does things, is great.”