MATT O’CONNOR SAYS speculation over his future as Leinster head coach is “irrelevant” as he prepares his side for Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final meeting with Toulon in Marseille.
Last weekend’s defeat to the Dragons leaves Leinster looking extremely unlikely to secure a play-off position in the Guinness Pro12 this season, adding to the unhappiness with O’Connor in some quarters.
While many Leinster supporters remain supportive of the Australian head coach, understanding the difficulties he has faced with injuries and departures over the last two seasons, there is belief elsewhere that O’Connor’s job is increasingly on the line.
The former Leicester and Brumbies coach’s contract in Ireland runs until the end of next season, but that has not stopped mutterings of a possible early departure this summer.
“You take no notice of it, is the reality,” said O’Connor of such speculation this morning in UCD.
We spend all our time creating an environment where there are no obstacles, no excuses and we work very hard, staff and players, to make sure that we work as hard as we can to deliver a performance.
“It’s irrelevant, the noise outside the environment makes no difference to what happens inside the environment.”
Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip underlined that the squad remain fully supportive of their head coach, with the Ireland number eight also pointing out that the players themselves must take responsibility for the poor performances this season.
“Speaking from personal experience, people have called for my contract to be ripped up in the past as well,” said Heaslip.
“So I would take absolutely no notice of it and Matt’s got the full support of the squad. We’ve done some great things over the last two seasons. As players, we’ve been pretty disappointed with how we’ve played in some games, especially last week.
“As a group of players, that’s not the standard we set for ourselves. But outside of that, I’m not listening.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor confirmed that Australian second row Kane Douglas is set for surgery on a back injury following a frustrating first season with Leinster. The operation means talk over Douglas potentially being involved in the World Cup later this year may be at an end.
Kane’s got a significant disc issue in his back that will require surgery,” said O’Connor. “He saw a specialist earlier this week and they’re booking in with our medical team a slot for surgery.
“I think it’s a three month-er, about three months. It’s a pretty standard procedure and fingers crossed he should be as good as gold in that timeframe.”
O’Connor said openside Shane Jennings remains on the comeback trail from concussion, although he was “still symptomatic yesterday, so he’s a little bit later than we would have liked.” The Leinster head coach did not rule Jennings out of the Toulon game.
Ain’t gonna happen anytime soon, unless they decide to match him up with Frankie in a number one contenders match and the winner fights him at UFC 200.
But that would really piss Edgar off, which would be hilarious actually.
I’m staying otta this one…
Aldo isn’t gracious in defeat, on the night or now and he’s still making excuses and threats to the UFC and McGregor. Let him stew.
A guy who’s undefeated for 10 years and champion as long as he is deserves a rematch. He got caught with one shot and knocked out, it happens in fights. The disrespect he is shown from Irish fans is embarrassing to be honest. If McGregor gets tagged in his first defence at 145 ye would all be screaming for an immediate rematch.
I agree Alan 100%. I’m delighted for Conor but Jose was a great champion and does deserve his rematch.
As much as there’s a McGregor bandwagon, theres also a big anti-Mcgregor bandwagon, who will latch onto half truths about his opponents… Aldo was a champion for 10 years becuase he fought in a weight class with very few other fighters for the first 5 and for the last 5 he barely ever fought… when was the last time he knocked anyone out? He was massively fussy about who he would fight, always picking fighters who were well below his ability and dodging the hard match ups. If truth be told, Conor was the first striking test he ever really faced in the UFC… He doesn’t deserve an immediate rematch because he has a history of pulling out of fights that didnt suit him.
So Ken Flo, Korean Zombie, Edgar were not hard match ups? Hominick took him to the brink as well. A great champ, and the only champ at 145. If Cain, Anderson etc get an immediate rematch, so should he
In fairness,who does he think he is,sayin he’s not goin to fight anyone else.he only fights once a yr anyway.think he’s still concussed after McGregor got a hold of him
UFC spent 18 months promoting Aldo vs McGregor. It would be very hard for them to promote it again for another 6 months after how the last fight finished. Especially as Aldo had no interest in promoting the 1st fight and left Mcgregor to do all the media work. As White said,aldo deserves a rematch after being such a dominant champion but the timing for that rematch wouldnt be right now. Let Mcgregor fight RDA and then he can fight Aldo/Edgar at UFC200 in july,but either way 1 of them aint gonna be happy.
It’s not surprising to be honest. Dana White is all about the $, he couldn’t give a toss about who deserves a rematch or who is next in line, whatever fight makes the most cash for the ufc ( ie. him and his business partners) is the fight that will be made. Hope mcgregor demands he gets his fair share, he pulls in way more ppv numbers then a lot of boxers but gets paid alot less then some of them.
He’s gotten his arse handed to him in record time already, is that not enough
One mistake in 10 years? Is that not a reason to give him another shot? Even after the first fight when they were waiting on the official announcement Conor himself was man enough to say they could do it again.
I think Dana is right though. Woukd be hard to promote that. It’s the fight game yes but equally ufc want to make money. The interest for that just isn’t there after last time. Maybe a year down the road might be better for all involved..