Jacques Nienaber: URC focus not an issue for Leinster
Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber has no concerns about Leinster's mental state following a rollercoaster month for the province.
Big Champions Cup knockout wins over Harlequins and Glasgow were followed by a crushing semi-final defeat to Northampton at the start of May.
In the week following that loss, Leinster had 12 players named in the British and Irish Lions squad, but it was confirmed that captain Caelan Doris faced a lengthy spell in the sidelines and would miss the tour.
Soon after that, Leo Cullen's side trounced Zebre to secure top seed in the URC standings, but struggled for periods in subsequent victories over Glasgow Warriors, in a dead rubber, and last Saturday's quarter-final win over Scarlets.
Many pundits have described Leinster as out of sorts and lacklustre but ahead of a third meeting this season against Glasgow in Saturday's semi-final at Aviva Stadium, Nienaber insists the team are in good fettle.
Asked if he believed mental tiredness was an issue, the former Springboks head coach said: "No, not at all. We're cracking on, it's a privilege.
"It's a privilege for any team to be involved in the knockout stages."
Asked if he was worried that the players might be struggling to fully focus on the URC, with the play-offs falling between European disappointment and a promising Lions tour, the 52-year-old added: "No, I'm literally a defence coach, I just make them tackle and keep the points as low as possible.
"I'm not a mental expert or a mental coach.
"That's not my expertise at all.
"I just must make sure they are prepared for the challenges from an attacking point of view that Glasgow will throw at us, which is multiple."
Lock James Ryan, who will go on the Lions tour this summer, says the fact that Leinster haven't won a trophy in the URC era helps them to keep their eye on the prize.
"We've never won the URC so there is huge motivation and hunger so I don't think staying fresh will be an issue," said the 28-year-old Ireland forward.
"It's our biggest game of the season this week.
"We're playing against a team that's coming into good form, that won't fear coming away to Ireland and getting a result.
"You saw that last year when they won in Limerick so we're going to have to be at our very best but I think the lads are motivated."
Meanwhile, Glasgow back row Henco Venter, who will depart the club at the end of the season as the Scottish Rugby Union aims to reduce the number of non-Scottish qualified players, says they need "23 dogs and 80 minutes of just everyone giving everything" to beat Leinster.
The 33-year-old South African added: "They're a class outfit with world-class players and world-class coaching staff.
"But it's rugby so if we do our stuff right, then we can do it.
"These games, this is what you play for. Big stakes, big crowd, everyone just ready to give everything."
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