Leamy ready to pass another test

FROM his earliest days at Rockwell College, Denis Leamy demonstrated that he didn’t have a problem taking on the biggest and the best.

The glory days of the famed Tipperary academy had passed when he was a student there in the 1990s, but thanks largely to his determination, inspiration and skills, he led them to Munster Schools Cup glory.

Not every schools star makes the grade at senior level. But Leamy has been a shining example, maximising his skills to become a vital member of the Ireland and Munster back row.

He will be in service of the latter for Saturday’s crunch Heineken European Cup clash with Sale Sharks at Thomond Park. He is fully aware of the responsibility on the shoulders of himself, David Wallace and Anthony Foley, given their opponents.

“Go through them individually. Jason White is a Lion, Sebastian Chabal has been one of the players of the tournament and Magnus Lund is being touted for great things in England with the internationals coming up. It’s a huge challenge for us and one we’re really looking forward to,” he says.

“Chabal’s ball-carrying is very effective. He’s been very impressive with the ball and he’s going to take a lot of stopping. But things have been looking up for us of late and last week was one of the highlights of my career because it was the first time I had ever won in France having come close with underage teams and been involved a little bit with Munster. We’re quietly confident.”

Like all his teammates, Leamy has enjoyed the recent past. He revelled in the Thomond Park atmosphere during the pre-Christmas Heineken Cup win over Castres and expects it to be even better this time round. He wonders how Sale will cope where so many before have succumbed to the extraordinary atmosphere generated by the ground and its amazing fans.

“Sale will look at the records and see that we’ve never been beaten at Thomond Park so they’ll obviously see it as a great challenge to be the first team to do it.

“This game will define their season, they’re top of the table in England and getting huge praise, and if they can put one over on Munster here they’ll be seen as the kingpins.

“It’s been a very busy season for me but also a very enjoyable season. I’ve played every game bar one and I like them to come thick and fast because my form has been quite good. I’ve probably played 16 or 17 games but I’m not complaining. I’ve been unfortunate over the past few years with injuries but it’s been good so far this season. My first competitive game was against the Borders back in August and around that time I had a few games in the centre.

“Declan [Kidney] asked me to do a job and it wasn’t a problem. I’d do anything for Munster. I’d play in any position and do my best. I suppose I got a bit exposed against Llanelli, but on the whole it was an experience. If I was caught out there now, although playing in the back-row, I’d know the attacking plays and how to defend out wide. The game has changed and you’ve got to be adaptable, to give and take a pass and have all these little skills, as well as doing your normal job.”

Having demonstrated versatility for years - Leamy seems to be equally at home in all three back-row positions - along came the November internationals and his surprise selection at number eight ahead of Foley.

“It was hard luck on Axel (Foley) from whom I’d learned an awful lot but I had to take my opportunity and go for it and I was pretty happy with the way things went. I can understand the view that I’d be better off sticking to one position but it’s all about adding extra strings to your bow. Number eight isn’t a new position to me. I played there all my way up through school and up to the AIL 2nd division with UCC. There’s not much difference between six and eight. The only difference is that the ball is at your feet when you’re at eight and you probably carry it a bit more. Other than that, your lines of running are pretty similar. It changes when you play seven alright but if I had a choice, I’d probably like to play eight from the footballing side of things. But I hope I can do a job in any of the three positions.”

However, there were signs towards the end of 2005 that he was tiring after a hectic programme of games and Irish squad sessions. He accepts being rested on the weekend of the Edinburgh game was a big help ahead of last week’s Castres encounter.

“I felt pretty jaded after the Leinster game and was glad of the breather, to recharge the batteries and do a little bit on my own“, he says. “Everything is fine again, especially after the way Castres went, and we’re all ready for what is sure to be a fantastic occasion on Saturday.”