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Jack McGrath looking to future as new Leinster era begins

Leinster prop Jack McGrath has clear targets for the new season. Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
Leinster prop Jack McGrath has clear targets for the new season. Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE

A domestic trophy and a quarter-final place in Europe would represent a successful season for most teams but, then again, the winning culture that has been instilled in Leinster means that there is no such thing as second place.

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As Matt O’Connor embarks on his second season in charge of the province, a new dawn beckons.

Brian O’Driscoll has hung up his boots, while Leinster‘s other talismanic figure Leo Cullen has taken over as forwards coach.

The personnel may have adjusted slightly but the old values remain. That’s according to Jack McGrath, who admits that there is a sense of “unfinished business” with how they exited Europe last season.

A 29-14 defeat to eventual winners Toulon has left McGrath and Leinster with a sense of longing to return among Europe’s elite.

“It’s been two years since we got to a semi-final, which is tough to take after coming from winning it a few times,” McGrath acknowledges.

“A lot of guys in the squad haven’t tasted European success, so there is a real hunger there to push on this season.

“I think the younger players realise how difficult it is to be successful in Europe, and having guys who’ve already won makes for a decent mix because everyone is feeding off each other.”

Leinster will begin their Pool 2 Rugby Champions Cup campaign with a home game against Wasps at the RDS, and McGrath says that the English side will pose a serious threat.

“It’s nice to play the first game at home but Wasps are a really tough side and we know that they’ll come to Dublin full of confidence,” he says.

“We know we have to win all of our games and I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have one eye on their strengths and weaknesses.

“But our focus is on getting through pre-season and then the first rounds of the Pro12.”

Leinster are currently finishing week five of their pre-season programme, and McGrath also spent time in Carton House this week as part of a brief Ireland camp.

EXCITES

McGrath will work with three new coaches this season – Cullen and Marco Caputo (scrum coach) with Leinster and Simon Easterby with Ireland – which is a prospect that excites the 24-year-old.

“It’s always exciting to work under new coaches and Simon was really successful at Scarlets, so if selected to play, it will be interesting to see what kind of ideas he has,” McGrath says.

The loosehead prop stormed on to the international scene during last year’s Autumn Internationals and he carried that through to the Six Nations, when he was an integral part of Ireland’s title triumph.

With nine caps to his name and a medal in his back pocket, the former St Mary’s College student is keen to build on his rapidly growing reputation.

“I don’t want to have just one good year and not build on it,” he quips.

“Last year was obviously great for me but I’ve parked that now and I want to move on and look forward. If you tend to dwell on success, you’ll get left behind on what’s going on around you.”

The Leinster squad are currently in Wexford on a team-building trip and will today hold an open training session at Gorey RFC.

With three weeks to go until the start of the Guinness Pro12 season, McGrath understands the value of holding these type of public sessions.

“They’re very important, definitely. It’s always good to meet the young fans and sign their stuff. A lot of the supporters here are diehard supporters who always travel to see us, so it’s great to give something back to them,” he adds.

Leinster will play Northampton and Ulster (at Tallaght Stadium) before the Pro12 season starts, and McGrath is confident that the hard graft that is currently being put in will pay off.

“Successful seasons are always based on tough pre-seasons. They’re always going to be hard but they’re very important and I do look forward to getting stuck into it,” he explains.

There may be a few weeks left between now and when Leinster travel to Glasgow on September 6 but McGrath is already honing the mindset that he hopes will be the catalyst for another positive season.

“Expectations are high amongst both the players and the supporters. Trophies have to be won, we realise that.”

• Jack McGrath was speaking at the announcement of BT Sports European Rugby fixtures for the 2014/’15 season. New subscribers can sign up for just €1. For more see www.setanta.com

Irish Independent

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