From pints to points to prove - Jack Conan on a frenetic week in Lions camp
By early Monday morning reality had set in again for Jack Conan - one job done, another only starting.
As Leinster skipper at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday, Conan lifted the URC trophy with injured club captain Caelan Doris and with Cian Healy, in his last action before retirement.
Then the celebrations started. "Class," he recalled. "It was a bit weird in the changing room after, like we didn't know how to win. Lads were a bit awkward, but it was good craic. We went to the RDS for a bit which was good, and then just pottered into town, and everyone did their own thing."
But Leinster's Lions had one eye on what was coming next. Monday morning, Lions camp.
Andy Farrell admitted he was impressed by how fresh the Leinster and Bath players were when they joined after their respective Cup victories.
Conan was fresh enough - he had a 7am appointment in Bray to pick up the family dog. "We had a great few days, it was nice, a few pints on Sunday as well early doors which was good. It was enjoyable celebrations. I was home early, so I was being wise.
"The afterglow went pretty quickly on Monday morning when you had to pack up for the next eight weeks of your life, and get organised and do everything else and get into camp. The anxiety was pretty high, like first day of school going in. The lads had the time together, so you feel you're behind the 8-ball a bit, so you're on catch-up."
The new arrivals had to get up to speed on the Lions' plays and calls on Monday, so that was challenging. Only one Leinster player involved last weekend - Rónan Kelleher - was picked to play against Argentina last night but Tuesday still involved a serious hit-out for the newcomers under Farrell's watch.
"Soul-searching stuff, we had to run out the demons," winced Conan. "You'd love to be playing, but it is what it is. Everyone has been training away without us."
Nine players not involved in the Argentina game were at the UCD Bowl yesterday morning to host a training session for 90 schoolchildren. Conan was wearing a leg brace but it won't stop him being involved in the Lions' first game on Australian soil next Saturday.
The 32-year-old was on the last tour in South Africa but this promises to be a completely different experience as that took place during Covid.
"Four years ago was still great, I loved it and had a great experience," Conan insisted. "You get to know the lads in such a different way because it was eight weeks of kind of solitary confinement.
"You have to mix. You still have to mix now but you're getting out and about in smaller groups whereas four years ago, everyone was just kind of sitting around.
"I'd love to be playing against Argentina but it is what it is. Excited to see a full stadium. The only taste we got of that was four years ago against Japan in Edinburgh and there were around 16,000 there with spaced seating, so definitely a bit different.
'You know what's expected of you when you put on the jersey and when you come into this environment. Other than that, it's more just the detail, the plays, calling structures and all that, it's different.
"I can't wait to get over there. Everyone says it's just a different fanfare, a different level of excitement when you get properly on tour. But you can even see it walking around town at the moment, people in jerseys, there's a pop-up shop, so many kids outside The Shelbourne. It's special."
The Lions fly Down Under this morning and Perth is the first stop for a clash with the Western Force. 'For them, it's going to be the biggest game of their careers when you're playing the club sides. The Western Force are going to be unbelievably up for it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those blokes.
'They might be missing a host of international stars but will be unbelievably excited so we'll have to be at our best. Every time you get an opportunity to put on this jersey it's only a very short amount of time. You've got to make the most of it and leave it in a better place.
'You've got to take those opportunities and run with it, and hopefully I'll get that opportunity next Saturday.'
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