Matt Williams rejects Leinster ‘conspiracy theories’ as Munster and Ulster face ‘uncomfortable question’
Leinster stars Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman and an inset of Matt Williams
Matt Williams has rejected the “conspiracy theories” that Leinster get an unfair advantage with their overseas signings over fellow Irish provinces.
Leinster have got great value from this season’s signings with Jordie Barrett, RG Snyman and Rabah Slimani all making telling impacts in both the United Rugby Championship (URC) and Investec Champions Cup.
With Barrett returning to New Zealand at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, the Irish province have already confirmed who his replacement will be, with Rieko Ioane also set to enjoy a sabbatical stint with Leinster.
Winning attracts winners
The high-profile nature of the signings has drawn criticism from fans of the other provinces particularly in the case of Slimani, with Munster reportedly blocked from signing an overseas front-row talent.
However, Williams has rejected the idea that Leinster have received preferential treatment.
“Over the past few decades, Doug Howlett, Damien de Allende, Ruan Pienaar, Steven Kitshoff, Duane Vermeulen, CJ Stander, Jean de Villiers, BJ Botha, Christian Cullen and Casey Laulala have all played in the colours of either Ulster or Munster,” he wrote in his Irish Times column.
“So please don’t tell me that there is some form of conspiracy that provides Leinster with an unfair advantage in the overseas player market. Winning attracts winners.”
Williams adds that Leinster’s culture and success has attracted the top talent like World Cup winners and star All Blacks to Dublin.
“Do you think Rieko Ioane would have signed for Leinster if his New Zealand centre partner, Jordie Barrett, had not recommended it?” he wrote.
“Perhaps the most uncomfortable question for Munster and Ulster is why players like De Allende, Kitshoff, Vermeulen and RG Snyman underperformed while at their clubs?
“Instead of looking for conspiracy theories, the three non Dublin-based provinces should be asking why Snyman has excelled at Leinster after being a frustrating disappointment while wearing red?
“The reality is that Leinster’s superpower is not their recruitment policy but their cultural strength.”
Uncommon traits
Leinster’s ability to repeatedly get back off the canvas and compete for the URC and Champions Cup title after their setbacks in recent seasons requires an “uncommon amount of grit, tenacity and dedication”, according to Williams.
He added: “Proving us all wrong, Leinster are, once again, into the Champions Cup semi-finals and are nine points clear in the URC.
“That takes an uncommon amount of grit, tenacity and dedication. If we define organisational culture as “The way we do things around here,” then it is Leinster’s cultural qualities that have turned Snyman’s poor performances in Limerick into match winners in Dublin.
“When talent is combined with a powerful culture, success follows. Same man, different culture, different performance.
“For decades, part of Leinster’s culture has been extracting the knowledge from their overseas coaching and playing imports and injecting it into their organisation.”
