Luke limbers up for Leinster

LUKE FITZGERALD epitomises a new breed of young, confident, Irish rugby player – the one that likes to be a winner.

Tomorrow at Croke Park, Fitzgerald is faced with the biggest challenge of his Leinster career. But far from being intimidated, he is champing at the bit to get a slice of the action.

No matter that the opponents are arch rivals Munster, or that the hotly fancied European champions stand between his side and an appearance in the 2009 Heineken Cup final at Murrayfield; Fitzgerald believes he is well up for the challenge.

“I have never, ever, gone into a rugby game without thinking my team can win. It’s going to be very tough; I don’t doubt that for a second, it is going to be a massive physical battle. Munster are playing fantastic rugby, but we have massive belief in ourselves.”

Fitzgerald admitted there are many who doubt this Leinster side: “Everyone is writing us off, but at the end of the day it’s going to come down to the two teams on the pitch; whoever believes, whoever is prepared to give up more, is going to come out on top.”

He admits Leinster contributed to that pessimism by their underachievement and inconsistency. “It’s fair to say that we haven’t always been consistent, it has been a problem, but I really think it won’t take much for that trend to change.

“We’ve been accused of being this and that, of not being mentally tough enough, but I think we proved by beating Harlequins in the quarter-final that we can do physical and survive. That was a real tough battle; we answered the critics in the way we faced up to the challenge.

“It was a good match for us to have to experience; there wasn’t much opportunity to be flash, and I think we proved we’re able to defend under intense pressure for long periods. At this stage of the competition, against Munster in particular, we have to expect to have to do that, and no doubt we will be faced with a similar situation this weekend.”

In terms of overall development, Fitzgerald believes Leinster are moving in the same direction as Munster – upwards. “Right now, we’re possibly in the same situation Munster were at a few years ago, trying to develop our game to the point where we can put ourselves in with a chance of winning the title. The thing for us is not to look too far ahead. We cannot afford to look beyond Saturday; the focus has got to be all about Saturday and nothing else.”

Looking forward to another visit to Croke Park, Fitzgerald accepts that victory will have to be achieved with the help of a smaller fan base – “I’m sure there might be a lot of people baying for our blood, but Croke Park is a fantastic venue; the guys who haven’t played there before are really looking forward to playing there. It’s a great stadium with a great atmosphere.”

Fitzgerald remembers the 2006 encounter between the teams, won 30-6 by Munster who went on to win their first Heineken Cup title. “I was at the game, but Leinster have come on an awful lot since then, though I’d have to say Munster have as well, when you consider what they achieved in the intervening time.

“That match won’t have any bearing. Myself and Johnny (Sexton) weren’t even involved, neither were some others, so I don’t think there will be any baggage. We’ve seen how quickly things can change; we beat them twice last year, they beat us twice this season, there’s never much between Munster and Leinster.”

Although Fitzgerald’s focus is total on his boys in blue, he still took time out to sympathise with the plight of injured Irish and Munster scrum half Tomás O’Leary, saying: “You never wish something (injury) like that on another player; it’s sad for him and a really big blow to have to lose out on the rest of the season and on the Lions tour. I think I’d be speaking for everyone in Leinster when we say we are very disappointed and we hope that he makes a fast and successful recovery.”