WITH ROB KEARNEY missing a raft of matches due to injury and Isa Nacewa filling in, aptly, on the wings, Leinster could do with a player of Niall Morris’ ability.
The Dubliner, now into his second season with Leicester Tigers, had no time to contemplate ‘what ifs’ at the weekend as he came up against a Toulouse backline of Luke McAlister, Vincent Clerc and Clément Poitrenaud.
“The game against Toulouse, away from home, was probably the biggest match I’ve ever played,” Morris told TheScore.ie.
“As a full-back, Poitrenaud is probably one of my favourite players so it was great to come up against him. They have McAlister too and their whole backline is class.”
After a bright start at Le Stadium, Leicester coughed up eight points either side of the break and lost 23-9. On Sunday, at Welford Road, they face Ospreys, the RaboDirect Pro12 champions.
Morris said, “We had a big talk about it (on Wednesday) and how, in Europe, you have to play the full 80 minutes and be switched on right until the end.” He added:
We were 9-6 up after 37 minutes then knocked on in midfield. They countered and got a try and added a penalty almost immediately in the second-half. We were chasing uphill after that.
“If we had’ve held on for that two or three minutes we would have been in a much healthier position.”
Having played two Aviva Premiership matches at full-back for the Tigers, Morris was switched to the right wing for the visit to the four-time Heineken Cup champions.
In ‘lashing rain and quite windy’ conditions, the former Blackrock College player fielded high balls well, chased down Toby Flood’s aerial bombs and supported the forwards as best he could.
“I was relatively pleased with how it went,” he said, “but disappointed about the result.”
Leaving Leinster
The 24-year-old made his senior debut with Leinster in September 2009 against Scarlets and featured once more that season. He played one match early in the 2010/11 season but the breakthrough was slow in forthcoming.
“Back in December 2010 I had only featured once for Leinster (that season) and I started looking at my options.” Morris added:
I knew there was some interest from Leicester. I then got a run of four or five Leinster games together and scored a few tries. I had made my mind up by the end of the season.
“I don’t regret making the move. It was a chance I had to take.”
Now 15 months into his Tigers career, Morris is impressed with the quality of the Premiership and the fact that each side is competitive.
“You have the league and European matches and, even when the internationals come up, we have the LV Cup, which is very competitive,” he said.
“It is good, though, as it gives players like myself the opportunities to play and try and make a name for myself.”
A win at all costs
Morris and his Leicester teammates have been doing their homework on Ospreys this week and have noted their recent upturn in form. He told TheScore.ie:
They’ve lost a couple of great wingers in (Tommy) Bowe and (Shane) Williams but Eli Walker did well at the weekend and got a great, individual try. They also have players like Hanno Dirksen and Richard Fussell on the wings too.
“Luke McAlister kicked six penalties against us last weekend and Dan Biggar is more than capable of doing that too if we give him the opportunity.”
“In Europe it is all about winning,” Morris added. “We’re not too concerned about playing expansive and attractive rugby it is just about winning. Whether that is through our kicking game or going through the forwards, the win is the most important thing.”
He certainly has bought into the Leicester way of thinking.
