United Rugby Championship: Leinster to go all in on title charge after European disappointment

Dylan Coetzee

2HA8KRG Leinster team huddle prior to the Heineken Champions Cup match at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Picture date: Saturday December 11, 2021.

Leinster’s scrum coach Robin McBryde is looking to the United Rugby Championship to provide the “fruits” of their labour after the side failed to add another Champions Cup to the trophy cabinet.

La Rochelle triumphed over the Irish province 24-21 in an agonising defeat for the Dublin outfit in Europe’s showpiece final last weekend.

They now turn their attention back to the URC, where Leo Cullen’s men are overwhelming favourites for the title.

Avoiding complacency

McBryde, however, expects a tough challenge from the Glasgow Warriors in their quarter-final clash.

“You want to have something to show for the fruits of your labour. The number of staff members that made it out to Marseille, the non-playing members of the squad were all there at the end of the game as well, so there’s a huge commitment from everybody. Supporters alike as well,” McBryde told reporters.

“We’ve got to show that respect really in preparing the best way possible in order to give us the best opportunity to win on Saturday. There are no guarantees, Glasgow will have been preparing for two weeks. They’re a good outfit.

“They only narrowly lost to La Rochelle themselves, so they’ll have a plan put in place for us. We’re going to have to really make sure we’re on the money on Saturday. This game now is a little bit bigger possibly than what it was two weeks ago.”

Leinster’s struggles at scrum time have been well documented in recent times, and McBryde has come to the defence of his players, holding himself accountable for the challenges.

“It’s not the players, it’s my issue. I have to make sure that I do my work a bit better. We are pursuing the channels with regard to getting feedback from the pictures that the referees see on the day. It’s an ongoing process really, but ultimately, we know that teams are going to attack us in a certain way and we’ve got to be prepared for it,” McBryde added.

“We can’t rely on the referee to give us the call on every single occasion, irrespective if you agree or disagree with him. I need to do my work a bit better there. In fairness to the guys with regard to the energy they bring to all facets of the game, it’s a case of learning and moving on really.”

READ MORE: Leinster: Legendary flanker Sean O’Brien returns to Dublin outfit as coach