‘Contepomi? I’ll have a drink with him afterwards’

FOR Denis Leamy, the burning desire to beat Leinster dates back to the time he first pulled on a Munster shirt in a Schools inter-provincial back in the late 1990s.

A 3-3 draw was in keeping with the bitterly cold, wet Musgrave Park day that it was. Twelve months later, though, he was a member of an outstanding Munster side that prevailed 21-3 at Templeville Road.

It was always a big deal for the lads from down the country to go up to the Pale and put one over on the city slickers, so as a highly-promising, rugby-mad kid from a rural part of Co Tipperary, this was pretty special by any standards.

However, if the man from Cashel, who turned 26 on Tuesday, imagined there could never be a better feeling where Munster and Leinster matches were concerned, well, he knows differently now.

In fact, that was nothing compared to the atmosphere when the senior sides of the two provinces clash these days. It would be an understatement to say the rivalry is intense and it will be renewed in front of a frenetic 8,000 strong crowd packed into Musgrave Park tonight.

Central to the entire affair will be Leinster’s brilliant Argentinian out-half Feilipe Contepomi (supported by people of the stature of Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy) and Munster’s Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan and Denis Leamy.

Contepomi has made no secret of his dislike for the afore-mentioned Munster trio and it is also most unlikely that coach Declan Kidney will be receiving a Christmas card in a week or two from the same source.

The battle of words between the players began during a Celtic League match at Musgrave Park in 2004 when Contepomi complained that he was “sledged” by Munster players as he prepared for a succession of goal kicks — most of which he missed — and his sense of grievance was exacerbated by the fact the Munster went on to win by an embarrassingly wide margin.

There have been verbal attacks and counter-attacks in the meantime but the most public show of acrimony was in Argentina’s stuffing of Ireland at the Rugby World Cup. Contepomi’s “consoling” arm around Ronan at the final whistle was anything but — it was gloating, straight up. O’Gara knows it, Leamy, O’Callaghan and all of Munster know it and therein lies a massive amount of spice to add to tonight’s already very flavoursome pot.

“We have entered a period in Irish rugby over the last few years where a lot of talented players have come on the scene from Leinster and Munster”, says Leamy. “They’re all trying to win things and they’re fighting it out among each other. Throw in the passion of the fans and the bit of banter that goes with and it all adds to a very healthy sporting rivalry and it’s a great thing to have.”

That is fair comment, really, because without these kinds of matches to whet the appetite during the long winter months, the rugby scene would be pretty dull. However, there is always the danger of things going over the top and it behoves the players tonight not to keep a tight rein on their self control. Otherwise, English referee Wayne Barnes will be reaching regularly for his pocket and branding cards of different hues.

“There have been one or two incidents but on the whole it has been pretty good”, Leamy maintains. “There’s a lot of stake, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with these occasions. Everyone wants to win. It just goes to show how much fellas want it. I know it goes a little over at times but never to the extent that you could call it violence or anything like that.”

Leamy deliberates long and hard about answering questions about the relationship between himself, O’Gara and O’Callaghan on the one side and Contepomi on the other. “It’s something that has been talked about and whizzed up. Personally, I admire Felipe Contepomi. He’s an excellent player and obviously one with a lot of talent. Sometimes he probably feels that we’re getting on top of him a small bit but it’s probably a two-way thing as we would argue.

“It’s something that happens and it’s left on the pitch. I would gladly have a drink with the guy after the game. There’s no problem and it’s not personal. I would never carry a grudge with a guy off the pitch. What you’re like on the pitch is probably totally different from what you are in everyday walk of life. On the pitch, you’ve a heightened sense of aggression, your blood is running a little bit and everything can be aggravated. Some of the hottest heads and hardest players you’d ever come across on a rugby pitch can be some of the quietest, nicest fellas off the pitch.”

Leamy’s conciliatory comments are to be admired. Whether Contepomi sees things in the same light is a matter for conjecture. Even his harshest critics would have to agree he had a wonderful World Cup — in stark contrast to many of those on the opposing side tonight. Furthermore, given the convincing manner in which the Pumas put the Irish to the sword to the tune of double scores at the Parc des Princes, it was, perhaps, understandable that he would rub it in at the finish. It can be taken as read that those gestures have not been forgotten by several Munster men in the Irish side that evening.

“To be fair to Felipe, he probably thought he was on the receiving end of one or two things and wanted to get his own back”, said Leamy. “These things happen and you can make more of what is in it. You can go through games when little things are said but they should be laughed off when the game is over and done with. It’s up to him if he wants to continue it in the press. It’s not something that we pay attention to.”

One of the unforgettable of the passionate Munster-Leinster meetings over the past six or seven years was the sea of red that dominated Lansdowne Road for the Heineken Cup semi-final meeting of the sides in April, 2006.

“Any time you go out to represent Munster, you are doing so not just for yourself but also for the fans and everything that goes with”, said Leamy. “Nobody wants to lose, least of all the players. It’s going to be a very good game. Over the last few years, whether it was Heineken Cup or Celtic League, the standard has been huge and there have been some great games.

“We know it will take a huge effort, not least because we know each other’s games so well. It’s definitely up to Heineken Cup standard. There are many good players all over the park and nobody will want to give an inch. That’s the way it should be.”