Last-four warned is last-four armed
NIENABER WILL HEED LESSON OF SAINTS KO
By Daire Walsh
LEINSTER assistant Jacques Nienaber insists the Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton is water under the bridge as the Blues eye another last-four hurdle.
Saturday’s 33-21 victory over Scarlets booked Leo Cullen’s men a home URC clash against Glasgow Warriors this weekend, but it was not a vintage display from the province.
After the Scarlets triumph, Cullen made reference to the Saints game, particularly how the Blues need to get a better handle on this latest semi-final encounter.
The former lock conceded: “People were looking ahead. Everyone’s looking ahead. Everyone is. Supporters, staff were trying to look too far ahead.
“So it was a real harsh lesson for us, but it’s about making sure we learn from that.”
But for two-time World Cup-winning coach Nienaber, that Euro defeat does not linger.
The South African said: “Maybe with Leo, but not for me. For me, it’s water under the bridge.
“Not one ounce of energy from me personally put into thinking about the Champions Cup semi-final is going to change anything – except the lessons you learn. So maybe he referenced that.
“There would definitely be stuff that we could have learned and that’s definitely something we can bring into that.
“Maybe his angle was more that. That there’s lessons that we learn in that the last knockout game that we played before last week was obviously Europe.”
Leinster have fallen at the URC penultimate hurdle in each of the last three seasons and Josh van der Flier is a doubt for their latest final quest.
The 2022 Player of the Year was withdrawn after just 30 minutes of Saturday’s quarter-final. The flanker was suffering from a hamstring injury.
The 32-year-old is being assessed this week before a decision is made on his availability.
But Nienaber is keeping his fingers crossed the openside will be fit to face Glasgow at the Aviva Stadium.
The assistant coach said: “We hope for clearance. He went for a scan on Sunday, but I don’t think they’ve come back yet.
“I am fingers crossed, toes crossed, everything, that he can make it. It would be nice.”
Garry Ringrose (calf) and Tommy O’Brien (foot) are also set to be assessed in the coming days but both centres were back running last week and are close to returns.
One player Leinster cannot look to on Saturday is Tadhg Furlong, who missed the last-eight win over Scarlets with a calf injury.
The Wexford man remains in line to feature on his third Lions tour this summer, but Nienaber acknowledged it has been a frustrating season for the tighthead prop, who has been restricted to just eight appearances for club and country.
Furlong played only the final 33 minutes of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, against Italy, because of a lower leg injury. But this latest issue is with the other calf.
Nienaber added: “I can’t talk for him, but I assume it is a tough year.
“You like to get a string of games and build on your confidence – get the team to get confidence in you and you get confidence in yourself and the team. I think it is frustrating.”