BRIAN O’Driscoll jokingly drew a comparison between Ange Postecoglou and Leinster while debating how the Blues’ season should be viewed.
A cloud has hung over the province ever since their latest Champions Cup heartache with that reflected in poor attendances across their two URC play-off outings.
Winning Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years didn’t save Ange Postecoglou from getting sacked[/caption]
It would appear their fans have grown a bit disillusioned with the wait for European success extending into another year.
Over that time, plenty of rival supporters have delighted in the tournament favourites falling short yet again.
O’Driscoll finds that sentiment among sections of Munster, Ulster and Conancht fans a bit much as he described the recent atmosphere among them as having “become a bit of a runaway train.”
Speaking on Off the Ball he argued that feeling should be dialled down a notch.
He outlined: “I definitely feel it’s become a bit of a runaway train of late. Some people need to cop on about it.
“A bit of healthy competition among the provinces is fine. I don’t expect people from Munster, Connacht or Ulster to cheer for Leinster.
“But just how this number one enemy idea has grown legs…
“There’s a lot of schadenfreude about. I just think that focusing focusing on someone else’s demise instead of your own success is a bit tiresome.”
The 46-year-old was at least pleased by what he called a “very comprehensive semi-final performance” against holders Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.
He did, however, acknowledge that even if his old side go on to lift the URC trophy for the first time at Croke Park this weekend, they won’t exactly be lauded for doing so.
He added: “I think irrespective of this weekend’s result this season will go down as a little bit of a disappointment because of that Champions Cup semi-final loss.
“It’s a terrible place to be that winning a trophy is not enough – ask Ange Postecoglou – but no, Leinster haven’t quite been at that level!”
Following their last day out at the Aviva Stadium this season, Joe McCarthy made a telling remark in his interview about how Leinster’s squad are keen to silence their haters.
He told RTE: “Definitely needed that. It is our first URC final so it is massive for us.
“We need fans behind us now. We are into Croke Park so it is exactly where we want to be.
“There is always pressure. We have never reached a URC final, disappointment this year already so we want to finish strong want the fans backing the side.
“I think the fans were great today. We need more of that next week.”
LOVE TO HATE
The lock could not resist aiming a dig at critics of the province when asked by Jamie Heaslip what the team’s motivation was.
He said: “We know everyone loves to hate Leinster. That definitely drives us on.
“We have a great fanbase and don’t really care about the outside noise – what you guys say, what other fans say.”
Saturday’s game was played in front of 15,762 people – a slight improvement on the 12,879 that attended their quarter-final win over Scarlets in the Aviva the weekend previous.
Since it is a South African team in Bulls coming to town next there’ll be hardly any travelling fans to boost gate figures.
But early estimations indicate there will be around 40,000 at GAA headquarters for the finale.
