WE had another tight win at the weekend when we beat the Ospreys 20-16 at the RDS on Friday night.
The Leinster marketing department themed the match as The kids take over the night and the children who are season ticket holders got to take part in some of the duties needed on a match day at the RDS.
It turned out to be a great idea because we had children reading out the match teams to the crowd. We had 15 mascots on the day who were involved as ball boys and girls and some helped Leo the Lion get the crowd going during the game.
I wasn’t playing because my knees are giving me trouble again but I got to meet some of the kids before the game and it was obvious how excited they were to be involved in whatever role they were given.
There were around 15,000 at the match which isn’t bad considering supporters had to buy quarter-final tickets and some will have to pay to support us in Toulouse this month.
The Ospreys surprised us a bit with their selection in that they picked their strongest available team despite having played two away games over the previous six days.
Luckily they had already decided to stay in Belfast after their win over Ulster on Tuesday night so their plans weren’t upset by the volcanic ash situation.
We haven’t been affected as yet but with an away game to Glasgow this Friday we are making plans to ay if the airports are still shut down.
This week we have to fit three matches in seven days and the coaches are using our squad to try and make sure that we are in the best possible shape for the Heineken semi-final on Saturday week.
One more win from our last three Magners’ League matches will get us top seed so the sooner we manage that the better.
Top seed guarantees us a home semi-final and if we win that then a home final which for financial and sporting reasons is very attractive. I am captaining the side against Glasgow away on Friday night but before that we play Connacht in the Sportsground on Wednesday evening.
We have nearly two different teams for both matches with only a couple of players having to double up and play a part in both matches.
Connacht are in a tight battle with Ulster because the third best Irish team in the Magners will get Heineken Cup qualification for next season.
The financial implications for Ulster of not making the Heineken are huge and it will be a tense few weeks in the Ulster squad.
Connacht can qualify if they finish ahead of Ulster in the Magners or win the Amlin Challenge cup in which they have a home semi-final against Toulon. In fact all four Irish provinces will be in the Heineken if Leinster or Munster wins the Heineken this year which is probably the scenario that suits everyone best. But I think it will go right down to the wire and we’re expecting a big test on Wednesday.
I was down in Wexford this week working with the Wexford footballers again and I have to say I am really enjoying my role with them.
I have always been interested in sports psychology and the factors that influence teams and individuals reaching their potential.
Their manager Jason Ryan asked me to get involved in January and I have been working with them in areas such as leadership, composure, discipline, etc.
Many of the techniques and mental training we have used with Leinster can be beneficial to other sports like GAA and soccer and I have been very fortunate to have been asked to speak to club teams all over the province.
Wexford had a good league campaign but didn’t get promoted because of an inferior points’ difference.
The goal now is to leave no stone unturned as they prepare for Dublin in the Leinster championship.