Bernard Jackman, former hooker for the Irish selection who also played for Leinster, revealed in a recent podcast that UBB’s opponents have asked to change their schedule this season to postpone their trip to South Africa. This change of program benefits them according to him in view of their Champions Cup final in Bilbao this Saturday, May 23.
UBB advances as favorites for its Champions Cup final this Saturday, May 23 in Bilbao against Leinster. However, Bernard Jackman, ex-Leinster and Ireland hooker, believes that an unnoticed detail could allow his former team to do well. He recounts how the four-time crowned team asked the governing bodies to change their schedule and postpone their trip to South Africa, which the former international believes can play a major role in the form of the Leinster players.
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“I know that Leinster put pressure quite strongly on the URC (United Rugby Championship, Editor’s note) not to go to South Africa, for at least one season, or even two, whereas they were going there before,” he revealed on the RTE Rugby Podcast. The Irish team have traveled to South Africa this season, but at a rather unusual time.
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Leinster started its season with a match in Cape Town against the Stormers (lost 35-0), then a new meeting against the South African club Bulls in Pretoria (lost 39-31). The Irish club tended to make this trip around March or April. Indeed, Leinster competes in the United Rugby Championship, a competition which brings together Irish, Italian, Welsh, Scottish and therefore South African teams.
A missed start, the price to pay for a strong end to the season?
He is forced to face these teams from the ends of the world, including in their stadiums. “If you remember, Leinster always started strong, then the holders stayed at home to prepare for the knockout stages,” recalls Bernard Jackman, believing that “it is not a good idea to divide your squad” in this way. With this trip usually taking place at the start of the final stages of the Champions Cup and after a VI Nations Tournament demanding for most of its starters, the club staff had not found a better solution than to rest its executives by avoiding this long trip.
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They did not have this need this year since their visit to South Africa was placed at a much less important time of the season. According to Jackman, it is clear, Leinster have “obtained from the URC a commitment to modify the calendar for the start of the season”. Despite two initial defeats, the team managed to hang on to finish in 2nd place in the United Rugby Championship.
Thanks to this, they arrive in a better dynamic. Since their victory against RC Toulon in the semi-final (29-25), Rieko Ioane’s teammates have played two matches, which they easily won. “They played at home, took the points and are now second in the URC. They will worry about that later and will not fear anyone, even if they have to play the final away. They can now face Bordeaux in Bilbao, going there with a bit of momentum and confidence”, concluded the former hooker of the XV of Clover. For him, there is no doubt, this change in calendar requested by Leinster has allowed him to build a dynamic which can give him reasons for confidence before this final against UBB, which all observers designate as the big favorite.
