Leinster vs Edinburgh

Leinster | Official Matchday Programme of Leinster Rugby | Issue 08 Leinster vs Edinburgh | United Rugby Championship Friday 11th February, 2022 | KO 6pm | RDS Arena Leinster | Official Matchday Programme of Leinster Rugby | Issue 08
Leinster vs Edinburgh | United Rugby Championship
Friday 11th February, 2022 | KO 6pm | RDS Arena

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opponents while, as Deegan highlights, both sides will also feature squad players pushing for further inclusion in the absence of internationals. “There was supposed to be no games on in this block for us which would have been so annoying so you’re almost thankful that those games had to be rescheduled. We’re all chomping at the bit here. There’s good strength in depth and we can’t wait to show the coaches what we’ve got,” he says. “There’s so many of us vying for positions in the team, a lot of the lads are going well and we just want to make it in because we’ve a good block of games now and we can’t wait to rip into them. “Edinburgh have been going really well. The new coaching set-up has brought a new attacking style to the team. They’re playing very well, a much more expansive game but we can’t wait to play them, especially back at home. “Away to Cardiff was so tough to take and we want to put that right in front of our home crowd. Edinburgh are a really good side though and they’re playing some of their best rugby for a while so I can’t wait to get at them.” Of course, with so many changes now to squads with those internationals away, there will be rotation to much of the personnel on both sides which could add some difficulty from a ‘team analysis’ point of view. However, under Mike Blair, Edinburgh have set out a new style of play and Deegan expects them to be aiming to replicate that regardless of who is in-sit from 1-23. “There’s a small bit of the unknown but at the end of the day, they’ll play the same brand of rugby and try to play the same way. It’s not a different set-up, the personnel will be different but they’ll try to attack the same 20 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

We’re all chomping at the bit here. There’s good strength in depth and we can’t wait to show the coaches what we’ve got.” way and set up to defend the same way,” he adds. “But then with that bit of unknown, it forces us to focus on ourselves and we always believe that if we perform to the best of our ability, we’re going to go really well. It puts the focus on us and the importance of our attack, our defence, our set-piece, making sure we get that right before we start to worry about what they’re doing. “Mike Blair has brought in a great sense of width to their game. That’s what we’ve seen this season and there might be some changes but that’s what we are going to expect from them. That means we’ve got to get our defence right, be more disciplined, avoid giving them chances or entries into our 22. Nail our defence first and then show them what we’ve got.” Deegan admits he hasn’t given much thought to what comes beyond tonight, forcing himself to stay in the current week, focusing on the current game, but has still set reachable goals. From the highs of becoming an Ireland international to the low of the ACL injury, he knows all too well that you don’t want to look too far ahead of yourself in rugby. “I haven’t really thought that far down the line. I want to be in the team when it comes to these big games. I want to be on the pitch, I want to be involved. If we’re trying to win trophies, I want to be helping the team push for them. The thing at the moment though is I just want to get back on the pitch, get good minutes, play good rugby. That’s what it’s all about. “I want to be involved but that starts with training well, playing well, making an impact on the pitch, getting the ball in my hand as much as possible, and trying to make things happen which I’m focused on at the moment and then hopefully those other things will come down the line.” Based on the heights he has reached in the past, you would think that it’s only a matter of time. www.leinsterrugby.ie | 21

opponents while, as Deegan highlights,<br />

both sides will also feature squad players<br />

pushing for further inclusion in the<br />

absence of internationals.<br />

“There was supposed to be no games<br />

on in this block for us which would have<br />

been so annoying so you’re almost<br />

thankful that those games had to be<br />

rescheduled. We’re all chomping at the<br />

bit here. There’s good strength in depth<br />

and we can’t wait to show the coaches<br />

what we’ve got,” he says.<br />

“There’s so many of us vying for positions<br />

in the team, a lot of the lads are going<br />

well and we just want to make it in<br />

because we’ve a good block of games<br />

now and we can’t wait to rip into them.<br />

“<strong>Edinburgh</strong> have been going really well.<br />

The new coaching set-up has brought<br />

a new attacking style to the team.<br />

They’re playing very well, a much more<br />

expansive game but we can’t wait to play<br />

them, especially back at home.<br />

“Away to Cardiff was so tough to take<br />

and we want to put that right in front of<br />

our home crowd. <strong>Edinburgh</strong> are a really<br />

good side though and they’re playing<br />

some of their best rugby for a while so I<br />

can’t wait to get at them.”<br />

Of course, with so many changes now to<br />

squads with those internationals away,<br />

there will be rotation to much of the<br />

personnel on both sides which could add<br />

some difficulty from a ‘team analysis’<br />

point of view.<br />

However, under Mike Blair, <strong>Edinburgh</strong><br />

have set out a new style of play and<br />

Deegan expects them to be aiming<br />

to replicate that regardless of who is<br />

in-sit from 1-23.<br />

“There’s a small bit of the<br />

unknown but at the end of the<br />

day, they’ll play the same<br />

brand of rugby and try to<br />

play the same way. It’s<br />

not a different set-up, the<br />

personnel will be different<br />

but they’ll try to attack the same<br />

20 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

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