IN REVIEW: THE RUGBY YEAR
More glory for Leinster… but where to now?
By Daire Walsh
2014 saw Leinster adding silverware to their ever-expanding trophy cabinet, with their Pro12 Grand Final triumph over Glasgow Warriors in the RDS on May 31st giving them an eighth major success in just seven seasons.
This was to be Brian O’Driscoll’s final professional career appearance, and even though injury led to his withdrawal just eight minutes into the play, two tries from South African winger Zane Kirchner provided the inspiration for a 34-12 victory.
Yet, although they find themselves in the Pro12 play-off places at the time of writing, and second in their European Rugby Champions Cup pool table just behind Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins, Blues head coach Matt O’Connor has attracted some heavy criticism for the style of play he has brought to the Leinster set-up.
For many, O’Connor’s style of rugby is uninspiring, and represents a major gravitational shift from the expansive game favoured by Schmidt and Michael Cheika in the past.
With past stars like Jonathan Sexton, Isa Nacewa and O’Driscoll no longer involved for differing reasons (although Sexton will be back in the frame for the 2015/16 campaign), there was always the possibility that Leinster could face into a period of transition, but when you consider how many players in the present squad are involved at international level, expectations are always going to be high amongst the Leinster faithful. The conundrum surrounding Ian Madigan is a curious one, with O’Connor currently opting for Jimmy Gopperth in the fly-half role, and Madigan in midfield alongside a variety of partners.
In his first year as official club captain, Naas’ Jamie Heaslip remains a pivotal figure in Leinster’s back-row. Fergus McFadden – a former Clongowes Wood College student – has been restricted to just five appearances this season, but can still have a big say in how the season develops from here, provided he stays free from injury.
Kildare were also well represented on the Leinster ‘A’ side this year, when the British & Irish Cup remained in the east for a second successive season. Newbridge College graduate Sam Coghlan Murray has been in tremendous form of late, and when Leeds Carnegie were defeated in the B & I Cup Final at Donnybrook last May, he helped himself to two tries.
He was joined on the field by former Senior Cup team-mate James Tracy for their final victory over the Yorkshire men, while Naas duo Billy Dardis and Adam Byrne have also seen game time for Girvan Dempsey’s outfit.
On the domestic front, the 2014/15 Ulster Bank League season has been a difficult one for Naas, but thanks to a late December away win against Nenagh Ormond (when Johnny Delaney, Henry Bryce and Peter Osborne made valuable contributions to the scoreboard), they have moved up to 10th place in the table, seven points off the bottom position in Division 2A.
They were narrowly ousted by NUIM Barnhall in Parsonstown on December 6th, and the fifth-placed Leixlip outfit (who were promoted along with their Kildare rivals from the fourth-tier two seasons ago) are well in contention for promotion with five wins from eight outings to date.
Schools rugby has also proven to be strong within the county, with Newbridge College recently retaining the Leinster Schools Senior League title with a gripping success over Cistercian College Roscrea, who they also defeated in last year’s showdown.
This will give them plenty of confidence ahead of their upcoming Senior Cup game against Kilkenny College, and when you take into account their journey to the semi-final of the same competition this year – when they eventually succumbed to defeat against eventual champions Blackrock College following earlier wins over Roscrea and St Mary’s College, Dave Brew’s charges could well be one of the sides to watch out for.