THE RETURN OF Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings to their native province from Leicester has always been credited as being one of the key factors in transforming Leinster from Ladyboys, as they had become derisorily described, to champions of Europe.
With the 21st continental campaign of the professional era getting under way this weekend, where the Blues take on Wasps at the RDS on Sunday, Cullen is now in situ as head coach.
Sean O’Brien played under Cullen’s captaincy and saw at first hand the example the grizzled lock provided in terms of the standards that were required. He and Jennings were hard, as were the Australians Michael Cheika and Rocky Elsom who also landed in Dublin.
Leinster needed that, as well as the culture of accountability and putting in the hard yards that the quartet adhered to.
While he has missed most of Cullen’s term as boss, it has come as no surprise that the same now applies. There is a level below which you dare not drop. Or you will hear about it.
The standards had dropped in recent years, almost without anybody knowing. That was down to a combination of the players slacking off and the management team headed by Matt O’Connor not calling them on it.
“You look at the likes of games last year and the individual errors that were made in games, our big games, they were probably made during the week in training where our standards slipped and weren’t high enough.
“This year already it is different, there is no place to hide. You are accountable for everything and you will know about it if you do something wrong.
“On the other hand then if you are training at a higher standard during the week then you are going to play like that.
“It just doesn’t happen. I think maybe last year we were guilty of thinking it will happen for us at the weekend but it is your actions during the week and the way you perform in training that will lead to the way you play and I think in that alone we have seen massive improvement already.”
He returns to the theme later on.
“The standard had gone up but as I said already our standards probably weren’t what they should have been last year and if we can get that back to where it was previously we will be in a very good place with the talent and depth that we have. It’s all about us driving it on.
“It’s probably the same message we have said before but the standards probably weren’t enough last year. It’s down to the player but it’s also driven by the management team that surrounds us to ensure that they are driving it and make sure they are giving us the right messages all the time as well. It’s an exciting place to be.”
The return of Isa Nacewa has added to the level of professionalism, and the new skipper’s composure is another vital element that has been added to the mix.
“It’s been good. It’s very organised. Standards have been good and Isa brings a whole level of calmness and smartness to the table. He is someone who everyone looks up to as well and who knows what he is about and knows the values of the club and he knows where we want to get to.
“It’s great to have him and then Jamie (Heaslip) and Johnny (Sexton) as vice captains as well, loads of experience there and everyone is trying to drive each other at the minute.”
Leinster last won what was then the Heineken Cup in 2012. That was their third title in four seasons but they have gone three campaigns since without reaching a decider.
O’Brien believes that there is a greater depth to the squad than has been the case for a couple of years, since the championship-dominating outfit began to break up, and that Leinster are ready to make a bold bid for honours once more.
“That is one of the things I was talking about with a few of my friends at home. I think we have a really good squad this year and I think we have a very strong squad in terms of all our depth in all positions and we probably haven’t had that… we haven’t had that last year anyway.
“I think we mightn’t have it again for a while over the next period so that is exciting. We have a very strong squad to compete with anybody.”
Sean O’Brien, who is himself a beef farmer, was speaking at a press conference at the Barack Obama Plaza in Moneygall to mark Supermac’s commitment to Irish farmers to an excess of €20m, increased in part due to the fresh 5oz 100% Irish Beef Burger, the first fresh meat burger available in a quick service food chain in Ireland.
