News article – Style E 6299
Leinster captain Brian O’Driscoll has dubbed next Friday’s Magners League meeting with Munster a “grudge match”, but insists that his side will treat it like any other game.
…Brian O’Driscoll…
Leinster captain Brian O’Driscoll has dubbed next Friday’s Magners League meeting with Munster a “grudge match”, but insists that his side will treat it like any other game.
A late burst, which included tries from Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie, saw Leinster return to winning ways in the league last night when they came away from Connacht’s Sportsground with a four-try 31-16 victory.
Provincial derby number two for O’Driscoll and company is a mouth-watering re-match with Munster at Lansdowne Road, just over five months after their heartbreaking 30-6 Heineken Cup semi-final dismissal by the same opposition.
Still smarting from that defeat, Leinster are sure to want to exact revenge for last April’s nightmare day on Friday, and they may have the inside track on their southern rivals with former Munster forwards Trevor Hogan and Stephen Keogh now in their number.
O’Driscoll admitted: “We’re all looking forward to the Munster game. It has turned into a bit of a grudge match because we lost last year’s Heineken Cup semi-final, but we’ll treat it as we do any other game.”
Speaking in Galway, the 26-year-old centre was pleased to have come through his first game of the season unscathed and see Leinster pick up a bonus point, as before kick-off they were a full 14 points behind league leaders Llanelli.
“From a personal point of view, I’m feeling grand. After seven or eight years of playing professional rugby you learn to expect a few bumps and bruises at the start of the season.
“We’re pleased with the win but it was a very tough game. People will look at the scoreline in the papers and think it was one-sided, but the scoreline flattered us as we were only three points ahead with minutes remaining, thanks to Darce’s (Gordon D’Arcy’s) drop goal.
“Certain aspects of our game were very disappointing. It was the first game for four or five lads and that showed at times.”
Courtesy of last night’s result, Leinster have leapfrogged Connacht into seventh in the table, but whether they get the improvement they are after against their red-shirted foes next week is now the burning question.