PRO12 RUGBY: CONNACHT V LEINSTER
BY DAIRE WALSH
Meanwhile, former Connacht second row Mick Kearney has revealed that the week leading up to an interprovincial clash is usually a “violent” one at The Sportsgrounds.
The Clontarf man transferred to Leinster this season but thanks to his lengthy stint with the Westerners, he knows they will be ready to take the fight to the Blues.
He said: “From my experience, any interpro when you’re in Connacht, it’s a fairly violent week [in training]. You want to be starting, you want to get your place and you want to get as many of those physical moments in during the week. You want to be ready, you want to know what’s coming.
“When I was at Connacht the training we did in the week of an interpro was far harder than any interpro that we played in. It was fairly vicious stuff and it gets you ready for the game.”
When Kearney made his first start for Connacht back in January 2012, former Irish out-half Eric Elwood was at the helm in Galway.
But he also featured under Pat Lam for two seasons and has the height of admiration for the work the Samoan has done with the province.
He added: “Pat’s a good guy, he’s just instilled a really good culture. There’s always been good people in Connacht but he’s brought systems with him and the skills coaches he’s got in. The likes of Dave Ellis, Andre Bell, Jimmy Duffy and these guys. They’ve made them good people and good players.”