Easterby Calls For ‘Right Reaction’ From Leinster
Following last weekend’s interprovincial defeat to Munster, Leinster team manager Guy Easterby says he is hoping to see the ‘right reaction’ when the province tackle Zebre in round 6 of the GUINNESS PRO12.
Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip spoke to the media at the Champions Cup launch in Dublin about how by Sunday evening he had re-watched the game against Munster three times. He was out walking his dog, Jay-Z, at 5am on Sunday morning because he could not sleep – all he could think about was the game.
This hurt is something that all Leinster players and supporters alike will be feeling this week, but Guy Easterby says that a reaction this weekend against Zebre is what is now needed.
“I think Jamie spoke very well at the media event for the new European competition in terms of the amount of hurt that people were feeling,” admitted Easterby, speaking to reporters at Leinster HQ this week.
“It’s professional sport but it’s also Leinster-Munster and the interprovincial rivalry. The guys are hurting…you can’t escape that feeling because unfortunately in professional sport that’s what you have to go through. Hopefully we’re going to see the right reaction this weekend in a tough trip away in Zebre.”
The round 6 trip to Parma is up next for Matt O’Connor’s men and Easterby knows that performance levels will have to go up if Leinster are to claim the league points on offer.
“I think we’re looking for a bit more consistency in our performance and if we can go and perform somewhere near to the best of our ability then we’re going to be in with a chance of winning the game.
“We can only control the controllable, going over there and making sure that we deliver on the game-plan that the coaches are putting in front of us and getting a result.”
Zebre claimed a 13-6 win over Ulster two weeks ago and this was followed by a narrow one-point defeat to the Ospreys last weekend.
In their second season (2013/14) in the PRO12, Zebre picked up five wins, two draws and five losing bonus points for a total of 29 points – a significant improvement on their debut campaign which saw them lose all of their games and claim just 10 points.
“At home specifically they’re a very strong side. They know the way they want to play and they play to their strengths really well,” added Easterby.
“They’re very direct, they’re very aggressive. They were unlucky last week (against the Ospreys). They didn’t concede a try and lost to a kick in the 73rd minute. They weren’t a million miles away against the Ospreys and they got a result against Ulster the week before.
“They’re getting more and more comfortable each year, probably each game in the PRO12 in terms of the level they know they have to get to.”
Meanwhile, winger Darragh Fanning was today announced as the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Player of the Month for September.
Leinster supporters voted for their Player of the Month by retweeting the Bank of Ireland Twitter account and Fanning was the choice of supporters for the opening month of the season.
He has been ever-present for the province so far in this season’s GUINNESS PRO12, playing every minute of their four games in September as well as starting last Saturday’s interpro clash with Munster.
The Dubliner, who turned 28 in July, scored his second try in Leinster colours during the 34-23 loss to Munster at the Aviva Stadium.
Fanning was presented with his Player of the Month award by 11-year-old Cillian Brennan (pictured above) at Leinster HQ. Cillian is from Donabate and plays for Malahide RFC Under-12s.