Leinster vs Ulster | PRO14 Final 2020
The official matchday programme of the Guiness Pro14 Final 2020, between Leinster vs Ulster. 12th September 2020 | Aviva Stadium
The official matchday programme of the Guiness Pro14 Final 2020, between Leinster vs Ulster.
12th September 2020 | Aviva Stadium
- TAGS
- ulster
- leinster
- rugby
- rugby-union
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FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />
Bordeaux before Bristol Bears<br />
came calling.<br />
He spent three seasons at<br />
Ashton Gate but his career<br />
fizzled out in the last 18 months,<br />
restricted to a season on the<br />
bench.<br />
Now 31, he’s back in the<br />
Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong>. And<br />
though Billy Burns has a<br />
tight hold on the No.10<br />
jersey, Madigan is <strong>Ulster</strong>’s<br />
not-so-secret weapon<br />
hoping to tear down<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong>’s perfect<br />
campaign.<br />
“I don’t really have any<br />
demons from the last 18<br />
months because I still<br />
think I’ve been true to<br />
myself in how I’ve gone<br />
about my training and<br />
getting my mind and my<br />
body right to hit the ground<br />
running with <strong>Ulster</strong>,” he said.<br />
“At the same time, it was a<br />
period that went quite slowly<br />
for me. I’m very lucky because<br />
I have great people around me<br />
- my fiancée Anna, my parents,<br />
my friends - and just being able to<br />
draw on them and being around<br />
them throughout the last few months<br />
built up my confidence again.<br />
“Even with the club, Dan (McFarland)<br />
is big on the psychological side<br />
and he’s been great at building my<br />
confidence up and ensuring I fit into<br />
the squad really quickly.<br />
“It’s happened thick and fast but I’d<br />
have it no other way.”<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> are aware of how tall their<br />
task is on Saturday night. <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
are chasing history, attempting<br />
to win every game en route to<br />
the title.<br />
Few expect them to stumble<br />
but then few expected Japan<br />
to beat South Africa, Greece<br />
to win the Euros or the<br />
Giants to beat the Patriots.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> have hope. And<br />
they also have Madigan.<br />
“A big part of it is<br />
what is going on in<br />
your head, filling<br />
your head with<br />
positive thoughts.”<br />
12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 53