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
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
- Page 1: ISSUE 8 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL M
- Page 5 and 6: john walsh welcome PRESIDENT, LEINS
- Page 7 and 8: With so many of our players away on
- Page 9 and 10: carla delaney DIRECTOR, BANK OF IRE
- Page 11 and 12: 16 TEAMS, 2 HEMISPHERES, 1 LEAGUE
- Page 13 and 14: Did you know? • Leinster Rugby ha
- Page 15 and 16: max deegan the big interview BY RYA
- Page 17 and 18: one when you say it like that, it
- Page 19: also two great mates of mine. They
- Page 23 and 24: I’m fairly gutted for a lot of th
- Page 25 and 26: TikTok Women’s Six Nations The Ir
- Page 27 and 28: SHOP THE 2021/22 LEINSTER RUGBY RAN
- Page 29 and 30: AJ Products provides unique solutio
- Page 31: O - Others: What’s your favourite
- Page 35 and 36: Men’s Energia All-Ireland League
- Page 37 and 38: Jack Conan #1223 23 CAPS 7 CAPS Wil
- Page 39 and 40: Garry Ringrose #1237 38 CAPS Rhys R
- Page 41 and 42: Your best support every season Mana
- Page 43 and 44: Surprise visitor to Seapoint RC ins
- Page 45 and 46: After COVID restrictions eased, the
- Page 47 and 48: SQUAD CAP NO DEBUT 2021/22 SEASON F
- Page 49 and 50: Proudly Supporting Leinster Rugby O
- Page 51 and 52: Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile ww
- Page 53 and 54: www.leinsterrugby.ie | 53
- Page 55: OFFICIAL LEINSTER SUPPORTERS CLUB S
- Page 58 and 59: As Official Clean Air Partner to Le
- Page 61 and 62: Virtual Mascot David Nixon Age: 8 S
- Page 63 and 64: Aidan Kearney was something of a ph
- Page 65 and 66: second row for his first three caps
- Page 67 and 68: Brian MacNeice spoke through variou
- Page 69 and 70: South-East Area Update BY DEBORAH C
We’re all<br />
chomping at the<br />
bit here. There’s<br />
good strength in<br />
depth and we can’t<br />
wait to show the<br />
coaches what<br />
we’ve got.”<br />
way and set up to defend the same way,”<br />
he adds.<br />
“But then with that bit of unknown, it<br />
forces us to focus on ourselves and we<br />
always believe that if we perform to the<br />
best of our ability, we’re going to go<br />
really well. It puts the focus on us and the<br />
importance of our attack, our defence,<br />
our set-piece, making sure we get that<br />
right before we start to worry about what<br />
they’re doing.<br />
“Mike Blair has brought in a great sense<br />
of width to their game. That’s what we’ve<br />
seen this season and there might be some<br />
changes but that’s what we are going<br />
to expect from them. That means we’ve<br />
got to get our defence right, be more<br />
disciplined, avoid giving them chances or<br />
entries into our 22. Nail our defence first<br />
and then show them what we’ve got.”<br />
Deegan admits he hasn’t given much<br />
thought to what comes beyond tonight,<br />
forcing himself to stay in the current week,<br />
focusing on the current game, but has still<br />
set reachable goals.<br />
From the highs of becoming an Ireland<br />
international to the low of the ACL injury,<br />
he knows all too well that you don’t want<br />
to look too far ahead of yourself in rugby.<br />
“I haven’t really thought that far down<br />
the line. I want to be in the team when<br />
it comes to these big games. I want to<br />
be on the pitch, I want to be involved. If<br />
we’re trying to win trophies, I want to be<br />
helping the team push for them. The thing<br />
at the moment though is I just want to get<br />
back on the pitch, get good minutes, play<br />
good rugby. That’s what it’s all about.<br />
“I want to be involved but that starts with<br />
training well, playing well, making an<br />
impact on the pitch, getting the ball in my<br />
hand as much as possible, and trying to<br />
make things happen which I’m focused<br />
on at the moment and then hopefully<br />
those other things will come down the<br />
line.”<br />
Based on the heights he has reached in<br />
the past, you would think that it’s only a<br />
matter of time.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 21