JACK ON THE HORSE
Conan parks European triumph and insists his Blues must follow it up with immediate success
LEINSTER may have landed the biggest prize in club rugby but Jack Conan claims their season will be “tarnished” if they don’t follow up with PRO14 glory.
The Blues were crowned European Cup champions last weekend after grinding out a tense three-point victory over Racing 92 in Bilbao.
But coach Leo Cullen knows only too well how challenging it is to follow up with a league title in the same season.
As a player, the Leinster boss lost two domestic leagues to Munster and Ospreys in the same season he notched a European star to the blue shirt – and it tormented him.
But despite their energy sapping duel with Racing, Leinster are adamant their focus is firmly fixed on beating old foes Munster at the RDS on Saturday to book a ticket for the final.
Ireland international Conan, 25, said: “Winning at the weekend was fantastic but if we don’t finish on a high it’s definitely going to be tarnished in some way.
“For the older lads who experienced that when we lost to Ospreys, that’ll be playing on the back of their minds and something they won’t want to relive.”
Rubber-stamping their standing as the kings of Europe will be the ultimate aim next season and beyond but
Conan knows the perils of looking too far down the road.
“That’s what the goal would be, to get more, but we’ll just have to take it game by game come October,” he said.
“It’s such a good, young squad but there’s a good mix with the likes of Johnny Sexton, your Isa Nacewas, the lads who have the four stars like Devin Toner and Cian Healy.
“That coupled with the likes of James Ryan (inset) who is coming through – 21 years of age and stepping up to be man of the match in a European final is absolutely crazy. When I was 21 I think I’d have fainted if I’d walked out on the pitch in front of 55,000 people so credit to him and the way he was able to perform on such a big day.
“It’s only the start for Leinster rugby but we won’t be getting too ahead of ourselves when it comes to winning more.
“There are these two next games hopefully and the chance to win more silverware. When it comes to European rugby it’ll be back to the drawing board in October.”
Leinster were back on the training pitch yesterday with Conan insisting their focus is not lost in a cloud.
Indeed, he says the provincial clashes focus his mind like no other.
“There’s always added emotion, added pressure when you’re playing in a derby game – Munster in the RDS for the first time in a good few years makes it even more special,” he added.