All the successful crusades used mercenaries. By qualifying from their European Pool, Matt O'Connor's Leinster surpassed Joe Schmidt's 2013 version only to fall short of the success achieved by his predecessor in 2011 and 2012
. There is a collective belief that they will improve next season, just not enough to challenge Toulon.
O’Connor said as much in the aftermath of retaining the Pro 12 title at the RDS on Saturday. The context began around filling the 13 jersey but with Kane Douglas the only international calibre signing, O’Connor feels Leinster will struggle to remain in Europe’s elite.
“I’d love to bring in five or six but that’s never going to happen. I’m arguing with the IRFU every day to make sure we can win Europe, whether it happens or not I don’t know.”
So Leinster need more foreign players?
“We didn’t win (the Heineken Cup) so you’d have to say yes,” said the coach.
The mantra exuded by senior players since defeat in Toulon – a firm belief that they underperformed on the day – sounded awfully similar to the line heard from Irish players after the Six Nations match at Twickenham. Both teams were beaten by physically superior specimens. Hence the arrival of Brad Thorn to match Clermont’s might or remember Rocky Elsom breaking Alex Tuilagi at Murrayfield or Nathan Hines constantly ensuring a fair fight.
Proof is provided by the three gold stars. There won’t be a fourth in 2015. Not without reinforcements. And that’s coming from the top.
British and Irish Cup and Pro 12 champions Leinster may be, but they were only European quarter-finalists because of December’s home defeat to the eventual English champions, Northampton, which sent them down to the eventual French champions.
“Are we off the record?” O’Connor asked in response to a more probing question about Leinster getting back to the 2012 pinnacle. Silence meant he wasn’t so he chose his words carefully.
Good enough?
“We all know how we get to that point. There are no secrets how we get to that point. The B and I boys are good boys but are they good enough to win Europe next year? I don’t know.”
The Leinster Academy has the no vacancy sign on its door. Some immensely talented teenagers are entering the sub-academy this summer but a bottleneck has formed beneath the surface.
This creates positive, ongoing debate. The IRFU have to keep mining provincial resources for national gain while O’Connor’s brief is to ensure the blue sails remain a feared sight on the high seas.
Leinster would dearly love another pass at Juan Smith and the Armitage pirates. Bring those treasure hungry nomads down a notch. Saracens, Munster and all of France failed in this endeavour. At least their captain [Jonny Wilkinson] is off to Davy Jones’ locker. We all know how we get to that point because we’ve seen it happen.
Zane Kirchner has been threatening to produce Saturday's stunning two-try performance against Glasgow since arriving last October. Just didn't get the chance. Blame Dave Kearney. Again, a good problem.
“He was only a little bit better than Fergus McFadden, let me tell you,” O’Connor said of the adopted Springbok. That prompts another debate.
“If Zane wants to play 13 we’ll stick him in there and see how he goes but I would be loathe to take him out of the back three because he is that good.”
Contracted
Any chance of Jared Payne coming down? “No. He is contracted, I think it is a two-year deal up there.”
But maybe the 13 conundrum has been solved. In 2004 Gordon D’Arcy was the best outside centre in Europe only for a fit-again O’Driscoll to shoehorn him into the 12 jersey.
"Darce is a good 13 for us, he understands it very, very well and the reality is when you've got guys like Noel Reid and Ian Madigan who can play (12) for you, that's a definite reality for us."
All the successful crusades used mercenaries. See Felipe Contepomi’s six magnificent seasons at pivot. Granted, the last two years stymied Sexton or were they the making of him? Same argument applies to Gopperth versus Madigan.
“You have to fight, that’s what you want, as a player,” said Gopperth. “You don’t want to rock up to a team . . . you want to have the jersey thrown in front of the guys and told to scrap for it.”
O’Connor would happily recruit “five or six” more like him.
Parting shot
We think he means that. Hard to tell sometimes as the Australian sees the media gig as a bit of a lark. But that’s his way of delivering fair dinkum.
“Aw, we’re not allowed to bring in foreigners. I wouldn’t worry about that.” He had earned that parting shot late on Saturday night. Over to you, Mr Nucifora. Joe will fill you in on the small print.
