UP AND RUNNING
Fitzgerald shrugs off World Cup failure to rally rocky Leinster
ONE of t he more alarming aspects of Leinster’s disastrous start to this year’s Champions Cup campaign has been the performance of some of their Irish internationals since returning from World Cup duty.
While the likes of Johnny Sexton, Cian Healy and Jamie Heaslip have looked a shadow of their usual selves, Luke Fitzgerald has been one of the few to come back and hit the ground running as Leo Cullen attempts to integrate his Test stars into a team that was coping well in their absence.
And the 28-year-old is confident that once Leinster get more matches under their belt, their fortunes will improve.
‘The last thing we need is a break. We need to throw ourselves into it at this stage,’ Fitzgerald says.
‘There is an awful of talent in the squad. What the guys up top, Leo (Cullen), Girvan (Dempsey) and Fogs (John Fogarty) are all trying to do the right things.
‘Once we are a little bit more comfortable with the set-up, with the messages they are trying to get across, the longer we have together the better we will play.
‘It’s up to us to deliver on our talent at this stage.’
Attention turns back to PRO12 action this week with Ulster visiting the RDS on Friday, and Fitzgerald acknowledges that Leinster don’t have time to dwell on their recent slump.
‘I would say that there is room for improvement and the guys know that.
‘When things are under pressure in different areas in the pack and things aren’t going to plan, the couple of opportunities that you do create become more important for the team. We feel that we could probably kick a little bit better as well.
‘The good thing about those things is that they are all fixable and they are fixable quickly. We’re confident that we can turn it around pretty quickly.
Fitzgerald’s form is all the more impressive considering his own frustrations from the failed World Cup campaign.
‘I was disappointed I didn’t get more time, I felt the Wales game cost me a little bit,’ he continued.
‘I was moved around a bit which was tough, I actually really like it at 12, it suits a lot of the attributes that I have.
‘Hopefully I get more time there, that’s what I’m hoping for, to be in one position.
‘You become a jack of all trades and a master of none.
‘I’m looking at room for improvement. Playing off the back of the World Cup I was pretty happy with myself and Joe (Schmidt) was too.
Saturday’s narrow 19-16 defeat away to Bath certainly showed signs of improvement from Leinster’s 33-6 thumping by Wasps at the RDS, and with Wasps also stunning three-time European champions Toulon on Sunday, Fitzgerald claims the squad still believe that they can get out of their group.
‘From my perspective I feel pretty confident and I know from talking to the other guys we feel pretty confident,’ he added.
‘In terms of the group it is not impossible for us to get out.
‘We have some difficult games coming up and I think it is very important that as long as there is still an opportunity we give it our all.’
So far this season Connacht have made the most encouraging start of the four provinces, and with their brightest star Robbie Henshaw seemingly ready to quit the Sportsground when his contract finishes in June, Fitzgerald insists Leinster would welcome the young centre with open arms,
‘ Physically he has great attributes. He’s a big guy, tough, up for the fight which is a big thing with young guys because it does take a lot of time to get used to the big collisions.
‘Footwork-wise he’s very good for a big man. Pretty good handling which is a big thing, he’s worked on that and it’s an attribute he’s added to his game.
‘Robbie’s a really good guy too, he’s really well liked.’
If Leinster do wish to entice Henshaw to swap green for blue, a win this Friday would be the perfect first step.
1 Leinster have only once begun a Euro season with two defeats