RUGBY INTERVIEW TOMÁS O'LEARY: Keith Dugganfinds the Munster scrumhalf eager to play down any talk of revenge and as good at dodging questions as he is at dodging tackles

THE SCRUMHALF endures his press duties as a scrumhalf should. He dodges the questions, darts through the gaps they leave and fingernails miss his jersey by millimetres.

Tomás O’Leary sits at a table whipping out fast, concise answers and smiling cheerfully by way of compensation.

“Wasn’t at Bublé, no” he grins when asked if he has visited the stadium that will host its first meaningful rugby fixture on Saturday night.

“It is exciting given the fact that it is the first time playing at the Aviva and there will be a capacity crowd. I was never there at all. Saw the soccer on the television and it looked fairly impressive.”

A succession of Munster personnel have been asked to elaborate on the importance of their shindig with Leinster and in keeping with the theme, O’Leary is not inclined to dress it up. No catchphrases. No declarations of war, admissions of envy or acknowledgement that Leinster have, in the space of a few years transformed themselves from Munster play-things to Munster tormentors. After all, four losses in the last four games; it has to be driving the Munster men mad.

“Mmmh. I suppose it is a league game with four points on offer and we are looking at it as trying to clock another four points before we go into Europe,” is all that O’Leary offers.

“No one has spoken about revenge or anything like that. It is a fresh season and I don’t think either side was satisfied with last season. We want to improve and so do they. It is not a grudge match from our point of view.”

But what has happened? How and why have the city boys suddenly learned how to not just cope with Munster but to completely defuse them? And what can Munster to about it? “Well, I would say we would have to be more physical and be more clinical I suppose,” O’Leary declares in the tone of a doctor writing a prescription for a minor cough. “Yes. More physical and more clinical.”

But he accepts that because of Leinster’s miserable form, Munster will be declared favourites for the match? “I dunno. It doesn’t bother me. I suppose they have lost a game or two so the bookies will make us favourites but it won’t bother us.”

What O’Leary will concede is that Munster-Leinster games contain a level of intensity and energy that is unrelenting.

“Yeah. Right up there, like. It is a bit off Test pace and physicality but they are certainly up there with the toughest club games you get. Definitely they are good preparation. You know, like you have to be on the top of your game and aware of the threat that Leinster have, especially up in Dublin. Watching the videos, every game starts with set pieces and the set pieces along with their breakdown work is where they had a lot over us the last few times so hopefully if we get a good platform and improve our work at the breakdown we can play our game.”

Munster’s approach to this game seems to be to studiously ignore the blatant turmoil in the Leinster camp. O’Leary blinks innocently at the idea that Leinster may approach this match with the ferocity of a wounded animal and nods blithely at the mention of Munster’s promising start to the season.

“ Yeah. We played Edinburgh away, Glasgow away and Ospreys at home and only took three points last year. This time we have 13 or whatever it is. That is straight away better but we have a lot to work on. But we have got into the habit of winning and hopefully we can continue this at the weekend. It is a habit.”

And a habit that they have fallen out of! Once again, the conversation turns to the recent Indian sign that Leinster have enjoyed. Once again O’Leary is invited to declare the disappointment that the Leinster boys have visited upon the hardy sons of Munster has been crushing, terrible and unforgettable. Once again, he breezily declines.

“Last year’s biggest disappointment was the Heineken Cup semi-final and then the year before the same semi-final against Leinster. That was the way it fell. But last year the most disappointing game was against Biarritz and, I suppose, the semi-final of the league too. That is the way it fell: we have met Leinster in semi-finals over the last few years. It would be disappointing to lose to anyone in a semi-final.”

Another question taken, defused, dismantled and handed back made safe. Someone brings up the issue of player rotation. Sitting on a bench in Munster is a perilous occupation but O’Leary, as a key member of the Irish squad, is likely to be rested over the season.

“Every player wants to play every game. It is not feasible. It is up to Tony when he picks me with Munster and the national management have a say over certain players. I want to play as many games as I can. But if I don’t get picked I don’t get picked, it doesn’t bother me.”

He grins and then time is called and the scrumhalf leaves. Whistling and untouched.