Originally published at 3pm
THERE ARE STILL three full days to kill before Leinster run out in front of Stade Mayol to take on Toulon in the last of this season’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
There are plenty of things yet to be put in place, not least team-sheets and flights, but after today’s training session in UCD Jamie Heaslip apparently felt ready to cope with whatever the reigning European champions could throw at them.
Early this week, Eoin Reddan pointed to the amount of work Leinster would have to put in on the field and in the analysis room to counteract the wealth of attacking options posed to Bernard Laporte’s side. Today, Heaslip was in no doubt that the homework had been done.
“I could play them today if you want. Not a bother to me,” said the smiling number eight.
“We did our D [defensive work] today and our own stuff. Good to go, we could play the game tomorrow, or this evening – most lads would give out to me though, they’d be too tired.”
This Sunday’s kick-off will come just three weeks after Ireland’s Six Nations triumph in Paris. With Munster in Dublin last week and Leinster off to face perhaps their toughest ever European trip this weekend, there is little room for rest and recuperation. Heaslip, however, wouldn’t have it any other way.
The business end
“It’s the easiest part of the season, to be honest, because you’re so focused on whatever game is on that everything just falls by the wayside and [time] just flies by.
“I’ve been on the flipside where you’re not playing in these games and it’s kind of long and drawn out. It’s always better to be playing in these big games and hopefully we’ve got three more in Europe – two more after this week – and a couple more in the Pro12.
“It’s the best time of the year, you hear supporters looking forward to going down to the south of France to watch this game. If we do a job, then hopefully we’ll get the home support back here, but these big games in Europe are why you play rugby – I’m just happy being out on the field.”
