Leinster Aim for Fifth Champions Cup Title With World Cup-Winning Coach’s Guidance
As Leinster prepare to contest their third consecutive Investec Champions Cup final on Saturday, former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has hailed the impact of the “serial winner” behind their remarkable run.
O’Driscoll believes Leinster’s decision to hire World Cup-winning Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber gives them their best chance of avoiding an unwanted hat-trick of straight final defeats. “The guy is a serial winner,” O’Driscoll said. “To be able to deliver a World Cup and a Champions Cup in the same year speaks for itself.”
Nienaber’s ability to quickly integrate a new defensive system after joining Leinster just three weeks after the Springboks’ World Cup triumph has been particularly impressive. “That is great coaching, that is great leadership, that is great man management,” O’Driscoll added.
While the loss of legendary captain Johnny Sexton to retirement has left a “colossal hole” in Leinster’s ranks, O’Driscoll revealed the talisman remains a valuable mentor to the squad. “Lads are still calling him right, left and centre for advice, for intel, for what do you think here?” he said.
Leinster’s revamped defensive system, implemented under Nienaber’s guidance, has made them physically more imposing, although O’Driscoll believes their attack may have suffered slightly as a result. “It’s still good, still high quality. I just don’t think it’s as detailed as it was the last couple of years which, for me, was some of the best rugby I’ve ever seen Leinster play.”
The former Ireland centre acknowledged that Toulouse, Leinster’s opponents in the final, possess the “firepower” to test the Irish province, but believes the game could be a closely contested affair. “There is pretty much zero between these sides. It’s who delivers in the big moments and what X-factor is able to stand up and perform on the biggest stage.”
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