LEINSTER REWARDED BRENDAN MACKEN for negotiating his first two Heineken Cup games by telling him to get his suit off the dressing room hook and face the media.
While Jamie Heaslip and Jimmy Gopperth were tied up with Sky Sports duty, Macken took his seat in the press room and reflected on his two-match stint as cover for the injured Brian O’Driscoll. He assessed his 52-minute outing in Leinster’s 19 — 7 Heineken Cup win over Castres as ‘pretty good’. He paused before allowing a ‘really enjoyable’ embellishment.
He told TheScore.ie: “We’re very lucky to have Brian. He’s very good with helping me, and all the centres, along. He’s always talking to the backs. He’s a great leader, as everyone knows, but he’s been great for me, in giving small tips. I owe him a lot.”
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Macken revealed that playing the Ospreys, last weekend, was a completely different experience to facing the Welshmen in the Pro12. “The atmosphere is unbelievable and everyone steps up a level,” he added.
O’Driscoll, speaking on RTÉ on Friday, confirmed he would be retiring at the end of the season but stressed his desire that it would not be a long goodbye. The inevitable blow of the centre’s departure would be eased somewhat if a player like Macken, or Luke Fitzgerald, played with confidence and verve in the 13 jersey.
As it was, three Leinster players occupied the outside centre role in the tense Pool 1 triumph over Castres. Macken did little wrong but sparked few attacks. Luke Fitzgerald, his replacement, made a great linebreak in a five-minute cameo before Fergus McFadden shored up the channel.
With O’Driscoll ‘a few weeks’ away from a comeback, and not likely to be risked against Connacht at home, Macken may get another outing at 13. The 22-year-old was content, however, to bask in his step-up to Heineken Cup rugby but warned his teammates that much work lies ahead if Leinster are to advance to the knock-out stages.
Northampton home and away is going to be really tough. When they come over to the Aviva we know we will have to up it, from today, to beat them. They beat us in preseason. I know it was a preseason game but they put down a bit of a marker and they are going really well in the Premiership.”
Leinster supporters would dearly love to have a fit O’Driscoll in-situ for the back-to-back ties but Macken can be proud of his efforts in an important two weekends of Heineken Cup action.
Gopperth, meanwhile, told Sky Sports that the credit for sending the French side home without a point rested squarely with the forwards. “They were outstanding and kept low in the tackle, and fought hard. Everyone knew what was at stake if they had got that try,” he commented.
Gopperth, who kicked 14 points, admitted Castres’ unpredictability had Leinster teetering. “Sometimes it looks like they don’t even know what they are doing themselves,” he added.
Scintillating one week and average the next. If Leinster can sort out their own unpredictability issues they could yet go far.
Macken confident he walked tall in O'Driscoll's Heineken Cup shoes
LEINSTER REWARDED BRENDAN MACKEN for negotiating his first two Heineken Cup games by telling him to get his suit off the dressing room hook and face the media.
While Jamie Heaslip and Jimmy Gopperth were tied up with Sky Sports duty, Macken took his seat in the press room and reflected on his two-match stint as cover for the injured Brian O’Driscoll. He assessed his 52-minute outing in Leinster’s 19 — 7 Heineken Cup win over Castres as ‘pretty good’. He paused before allowing a ‘really enjoyable’ embellishment.
He told TheScore.ie: “We’re very lucky to have Brian. He’s very good with helping me, and all the centres, along. He’s always talking to the backs. He’s a great leader, as everyone knows, but he’s been great for me, in giving small tips. I owe him a lot.”
Macken revealed that playing the Ospreys, last weekend, was a completely different experience to facing the Welshmen in the Pro12. “The atmosphere is unbelievable and everyone steps up a level,” he added.
O’Driscoll, speaking on RTÉ on Friday, confirmed he would be retiring at the end of the season but stressed his desire that it would not be a long goodbye. The inevitable blow of the centre’s departure would be eased somewhat if a player like Macken, or Luke Fitzgerald, played with confidence and verve in the 13 jersey.
As it was, three Leinster players occupied the outside centre role in the tense Pool 1 triumph over Castres. Macken did little wrong but sparked few attacks. Luke Fitzgerald, his replacement, made a great linebreak in a five-minute cameo before Fergus McFadden shored up the channel.
With O’Driscoll ‘a few weeks’ away from a comeback, and not likely to be risked against Connacht at home, Macken may get another outing at 13. The 22-year-old was content, however, to bask in his step-up to Heineken Cup rugby but warned his teammates that much work lies ahead if Leinster are to advance to the knock-out stages.
Leinster supporters would dearly love to have a fit O’Driscoll in-situ for the back-to-back ties but Macken can be proud of his efforts in an important two weekends of Heineken Cup action.
Gopperth, meanwhile, told Sky Sports that the credit for sending the French side home without a point rested squarely with the forwards. “They were outstanding and kept low in the tackle, and fought hard. Everyone knew what was at stake if they had got that try,” he commented.
Gopperth, who kicked 14 points, admitted Castres’ unpredictability had Leinster teetering. “Sometimes it looks like they don’t even know what they are doing themselves,” he added.
Scintillating one week and average the next. If Leinster can sort out their own unpredictability issues they could yet go far.
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Brendan Macken Brian O'Driscoll European Rugby Champions Cup HCup jimmy gopperth Leinster Rugby stepping up Castres Olympique