Tommy O’Brien and James Ryan say Leinster are hungry to erase recent Investec Champions Cup heartbreak when they face Toulon in Saturday’s semi-final in Dublin.
The Irish giants have reached the last four of Europe’s premier club competition in each of the past six seasons, but have repeatedly fallen short, including last year’s dramatic semis defeat to the Northampton Saints at the Aviva Stadium.
“We were all sat there in that changing room thinking ‘we’d love another crack at a semi-final’,” O’Brien said.
“We all would’ve done anything to get a crack at it again, so we’re very excited to give it a lash again. We’ve had to wait a year to get it again.”
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O’Brien has hit form at the right time, scoring three tries in his last two appearances, but is aware of the fine margins at this level.
“Each moment is huge,” he said. “We talk about winning as many duels as you can, so as a winger that might mean high balls, chases and kicks, receiving kicks.
“There’s a lot of onus on us wingers, but that’s something incredibly exciting, as you can create something special.”
Leinster will not underestimate a Toulon outfit steeped in European pedigree. The French club won an unprecedented hat-trick of Champions Cup titles between 2013 and 2015.
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“Toulon have a lot of history in this competition, they love it,” O’Brien added. “We know how much it means to them and their fans.”
Ryan echoed that sentiment, while embracing the magnitude of the occasion. “We’re excited. We know we have to be at our very best to get a result,” the lock said.
“Pressure is a privilege, you’ve got to walk towards it. Big players like big games and the pressure that comes with it; we’ve got to embrace that.”
Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
The post Leinster excited for ‘another crack’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Tommy O’Brien and James Ryan say Leinster are hungry to erase recent Investec Champions Cup heartbreak when they face Toulon in Saturday’s semi-final in Dublin.
The post Leinster excited for ‘another crack’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
