JAMES TRACY INTERVIEW
By Daire Walsh
Following on from a productive campaign that saw him making 26 first-team appearances for the province, the 2017/18 season looks set to be another big one for Leinster hooker James Tracy.
With four senior international caps also under his belt within the past 12 months, the Kill native is now viewed as a pivotal player by both Leo Cullen and Joe Schmidt – who handed the now 26-year-old his provincial debut back in November 2012 against the Ospreys.
On his first start of the new term – against Cardiff Blues at the RDS on September 8 – saw Tracy claimed his fourth try in the colours of Leinster, and with the likes of Sean Cronin and Richardt Strauss continuing to provide ferocious competition for his position, he is aware that he needs to take each opportunity that comes his way.
“I try and have more short-term goals, as it’s tough enough to get picked here. If you don’t play well here, you fall down the pecking order very quickly. I really enjoyed every opportunity I got [last season[ and I’d relish getting them again,” Tracy remarked in UCD last Monday week.
“To get better, you have to be hard on yourself, but I definitely did appreciate the experience. Being involved and the privileged to play in a green jersey. Trying to stay ahead of the lads here is more of a focus than Ireland, but if you’re playing well that will follow suit.”
There is a new dimension to the way that Leinster will prepare for battle this season, as the PRO12 league has been expanded into a PRO14 competition with the addition of two South African clubs, the Southern Kings and the Toyota Cheetahs.
The Blue Army are the first of the Irish provinces to make the long trip to the southern hemisphere, and they began their tour of the country with a 31-10 victory over Southern Kings in a sparsely-populated Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last Saturday.
Tracy appeared from the bench in this encounter, and speaking before the team’s departure from Dublin, he felt this trip overseas would help the squad to bond in a way that is different to the tours he has been on with international sides.
“Any tour just galvanises a group. That’s a massive thing for us. We don’t necessarily get to go away for that long together unless you’re in Irish camp, and you’re not together as a group [with Ireland].
“You’re together with other people who, once you leave, you’re not playing with them anymore until you’re back again. It’s just to bring us together as a group, so we’ll all be socialising with each other as a group, off-training hours, as well as getting more time to do walk-throughs and stuff like that.”
There was initial uncertainty in many quarters when it was announced that the two South African sides were joining the league, and they have struggled to find their feet in the opening rounds of the competition.
However, Tracy was excited when he first heard the idea being mooted, and is adamant that the rest of the Leinster squad are of a similar mind.
“I was all for it. A few of my friends were like ‘aw, that’s a bit of a trek’ but why wouldn’t you want to do it. I would be open to anything. It’s new challenges, new experiences. Everyone here is pumped. We didn’t think it would happen this year, but fair play to everyone for getting it over the line.”
As one of only two hookers in the 28-man squad for the tour, Tracy is also expected to feature against the Cheetahs at Toyota Stadium this coming Friday, and he acknowledged that these games are different to a normal league encounter.
“It’s Ireland v South Africa on a smaller scale. Of course we’re aware of that, but it won’t change how we prep or anything like that, it just makes it exciting, it makes the occasion more special.
“Just to be involved, and especially to be the first ones. I was lucky enough to be involved in the first game at the Aviva as well, so I’m setting the way,” Tracy added.