AS THE CRO FLIES
Sean on real high as tour swings around
SEAN CRONIN can’t wait for the next chapter in an unprecedented year for Irish rugby.
The hooker was an integral part of Leinster’s double-winning achievement, with the Champions Cup and PRO14 trophies added to the province’s cabinet over the past fortnight.
The players involved rightly celebrated both over the past few days but there will be a rapid change of focus for a large contingent of those revellers – 20 in total – from tomorrow on.
They are part of the Ireland squad that is heading to Australia on Thursday for the three-test summer tour.
“It’s very exciting,” admitted Cronin, who is in no mood to slow down. “I’m looking forward to getting back in.
“It’s a tremendous group of guys working under Joe Schmidt and I’m sure he’ll have us back down to earth when we get together on Wednesday. Joe has his own way of doing stuff so we’ll have to get up to speed with that and put this to bed pretty quick. I’m looking forward to the three great cities we’re going to, I think it’s the 1970s since we’ve had a win there so it’s going to be a huge tour.”
Ireland’s last tour series win against the Wallabies was in 1979 but, now positioned second in the world rankings and with a Grand Slam banked in March, Schmidt is bringing a very strong 32-man squad Down Under with high hopes.
And Cronin is certain it won’t be just the Leinster players who will want to finish this remarkable campaign on a high.
The 32-year-old said: “A lot of those lads will come in outside of Leinster thirsty for more success as well off the back of the Grand Slam.
“We’re going to come in and try and add value, like we always do, add a bit of success there.”
For Cronin, the second half of the season has been particularly
1ST TEST, SAT JUNE 9
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 11am
2ND TEST, SAT JUNE 16
AAMI Park, Melbourne, 11am
3RD TEST, SAT JUNE 23
Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 11am enjoyable. Injury left him feeling frustrated at the start of the campaign with Schmidt omitting him out of the November Series but he returned in time for the Six Nations.
“It’s so pleasing,” reflected the Limerick man. “I previously said that you have to take the lows, you’ve got to look at how you can bounce back from that and try and work your socks off to get back in contention.
“That’s all I did. I saw what Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster wanted from me here, to get up to speed, and they’ve had a bit of faith in me.
“That’s all you can do, don’t sulk, work as hard as you can and believe in yourself. It’s a great squad to be involved with, there are some superb players and young guys coming through.
“They’re so professional around the environment, how hard they work, how well they look after themselves. That drives the older guys.”