Jack Conan: Leinster ready to 'silence a few more critics'

RTÉ News​

5 hours ago

It's not quite Millwall and the old "No one likes us, we don't care" motto, but as Leinster look to rediscover their mojo, they're leaning heavily into the words of their critics.
They won't be the first, and they won't be the last, but the province are embracing their status as the team the neutrals want to see beaten.
It's understandable that they're in that position; a squad laden with Ireland internationals and central contracts, as well as three top quality foreign imports. A team that breezes their way through the early stages of seasons, only to fluff their lines in semi-finals and finals in recent seasons. They're an easy target.
In the day or two leading up to Saturday's URC semi-final against Glasgow Warriors, the province made an Instagram post calling on Leinster fans to rally behind their team, which started with a series of damning headlines about this current Leinster side being under pressure and in a funk, which was contradicted by the caption: "We're not here to prove people wrong. We're here to prove ourselves right."
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after Saturday's win, Joe McCarthy's comments would suggest that the considerable schadenfreude about Leinster's recent malaise has been a major motivational tool this week.
"We know everyone loves to hate Leinster so that definitely drives us on," the second row said.
Those comments by McCarthy were put to Jack Conan on Saturday evening, and while the Leinster captain did make a semantic adjustment to what his team-mate had said, he echoed the sentiment.
"I don't think everyone hates Leinster but I think people definitely revel in us underachieving at times," Conan said.
"We get enough flak and stuff. As Leo [Cullen] said, I wouldn't be one much for social media either so you try to block out that noise because it's irrelevant but what we appreciate is the people who come out to see us week in week out, when the days are good and the days are bad.
"Those are the people we are doing it for, the staff, the lads in the changing room, the people that give everything to this club and you try to block out the noise.
"It's always nice to prove some people wrong and hopefully we can go again next week and silence a few more critics."
A four-time winner of the old Pro14, Conan has now gone four years without getting his hands on a trophy in a Leinster shirt.
As well as the disappointment of losing three Champions Cup finals and most recently a semi-final, the province lost in the URC semi-finals in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with Saturday's win against Glasgow putting them into the decider of this competition for the first time since the arrival of the South African big four.
Next Saturday's final pits the province against the Bulls at Croke Park, with Jake White's side defeating Leinster in two of those three previous semi-finals.
"It's definitely harder than it's ever been," Conan (above) added. "Add in those away trips to South Africa, they always come at a tricky time for us, the lads went down this year and lost against the Bulls but they put in a hell of an effort and beat the Sharks and that sets us up really well for the tail end of the season.
"It's incredibly tough, everyone's out to be at their best and beat everyone and that's no different for us.
"This week, we'll take it moment by moment and enjoy it. It's a special time, with a great group of lads, great staff, everyone. We want to make it a special week, we don't want to be worried about results, it's all about performance and that's what we're building for.
"We won't be overawed by the occasion, we'll enjoy it and whatever happens, happens."
The province will issue a squad update on Monday, with Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose possibly in contention to recover from minor injuries, although Hugo Keenan and Tadhg Furlong are less likely to recover in time, with both players out with calf issues.
Saturday's final will be a final outing for some Leinster stalwarts. Cian Healy (below) is set to retire this summer after a career than has spanned 18 years and more than 420 games for club and country.
Similarly, long-serving out-half Ross Byrne is moving on to Gloucester this summer, while Jordie Barrett will be hoping to cap off his sabbatical at the province with a trophy.
In previous seasons that Leinster have won the domestic league, the trophy lift has been handed over to their departing players, and Conan is hoping that they can give them one more special day in blue.
"Absolutely, it's been a motivation for the last few weeks to give them another week in the club and do right by them.
"Church [Cian Healy] has given his entire career to the club. Ross [Byrne] has been a fantastic servant. Jordie, the impact he's made. Even the likes of Liamo [Liam Turner] and Robbo [Rob Russell] have been brilliant throughout their careers here for us.
"We want to do right by all those lads. It's something we've touched on a lot. I think it's part of the reason why we were so on it today because we want to give those lads the send-off they deserve but, again, it won't count for much if we don't push on and be better than where we were today."