DAN DARES TO DREAM..
THE enticing prospect of an all-ireland Champions Cup final in Bilbao next month was given short shrift by Dan Leavy.
“Eh, we’ll deal with Scarlets first,” was the Leinster star’s reply to a question about meeting Munster in the Basque country on May 12.
It was the right answer, too, given that both provinces went out at the semi-final stage last year, while Leinster and Munster were both beaten by the Scarlets in the Pro12 play-offs last May.
With that in mind, Leavy is imploring Blues fans to pack out the Aviva Stadium for the last four clash.
“The crowd was incredible,” he said, reflecting on last Sunday’s quarter-final defeat of Saracens at the same venue.
“We almost had a full house, we’re hoping for the same or even better again.
“It would be brilliant because it does make a massive difference.
“Even though we’ve got a home advantage here, we’ve got to use it and hearing the crowd roar like that and get behind you, it gives players two or three per cent that can be the winning or losing of the game.” DAN LEAVY insists Leinster can fulfil their destiny by winning the Champions Cup.
After falling at the semi-final stage against Clermont a year ago, the Blues have another chance to reach the final when they meet the Scarlets at Aviva Stadium in just under three weeks’ time.
“Winning is everything,” stated the province’s man of the moment.
“Last year we played some incredible rugby with a lot of young players coming through.
“Now it’s time to step up and take our prize.”
It’s been a magical couple of months for Leavy and the core of this Leinster side that has just won the Grand Slam with Ireland.
“We’re back home now with our club,” he said. “Leinster is like a family.
“Obviously it’s a huge honour (the Slam) and it’s brilliant, and it’s such an honour to play for your country, but Leinster is your home for 90 per cent of the year.
“You’re with your best mates, so it’s special and something we’ve touched on.
“It’s all well and good winning in the League, but it’s do or die when it comes to the end of the season – and it’s time to step up.”
Everyone’s a Dan fan right now, it seems – but one in particular was in his thoughts on Sunday night.
Joan Leavy celebrated her 96th birthday in her Mullingar home by watching her grandson tear defending champions Saracens apart.
It was the latest in a line of superb displays by the flanker since coming on for the injured Josh van der Flier in Paris at the start of Ireland’s Grand Slam run.
“She’s a Dan fan,” smiled Leavy.
“To be honest I don’t think anyone in my family, even my parents, know the rules yet. But they’re Dan fans anyway!
“I’d like to say happy birthday to her – she’d love to see her name in the papers.
“Obviously I couldn’t get to see her on Sunday, but I’ll be over to her in the next few days.”
Joan was at the Aviva to watch Leavy make his Ireland debut against Canada in November 2016.
“My aunts are all huge fans as well,” the 23-year-old grinned. “They’ll be annoyed if they don’t get a shout out!”
His right eye has taken a bit of a battering since that famous Stade de France afternoon.
He sported a new big shiner over it on Sunday (inset).
“They’re pretty used to it at this stage, this is kind of the norm,” Leavy said.
“If I don’t have a black eye or something, I probably haven’t had a good game!
“I’m happy, but there are always little things you can brush up on.
“Staying in the game, keeping discipline high. But it’s a great win – a day to be celebrated and remembered.”