Reddan happy to be in mix with Leinster

Leinster V Munster

Indeed, Reddan has become used to forming different partnerships from a long time back, and his Leinster merry-go-round association with Jonathan Sexton, Shaun Berne and Isa Nacewa doesn’t trouble him.

In fact, he insists, forced adaptation has been good for his game: “Yeah, the need to be able to adapt is good, and in fairness I get on well with the three of them off the pitch, which is very good for when you even start in the warm-up.

“I could always speak, for instance, to Isa (the latest of the trio) in the build-up; about what we were going to do in certain circumstances, and I would be very confident in all three of them. Last week (when Nacewa was called in at the 11th hour as a replacement for Berne) I was looking forward to playing with him as soon as I heard about the change because he brings that little bit of excitement to the game, doesn’t he?”

Reddan has other things on his mind this weekend, as he wonders about the implications for Leinster of the imminent retirement of long-term servant Malcolm O’Kelly, plus the possibility that he could contribute to giving the big man a rousing farewell to his last season.

With the giant 35-year-old second row about to call time on a marvellous career that brought all sorts of dividends for Leinster, Ireland and the Lions, Reddan believes O’Kelly will be a hard act to follow.

“He’s one of those guys that makes you want to have him on your side. I’ve played against him and it’s frustrating because you don’t get much change out of him. As a colleague, he has a massive work-rate and he’s always been around to help.

“As a nine, he’s always giving you options and he’s got great skills as well which is a huge asset.

“I’ve been lucky to play with him for Ireland and Leinster; you can tell how much both teams have meant to him over the years and he’s always produced big games on big days. Hopefully he can do the same again this weekend.”

In relation to Munster, Reddan will have absolutely no sympathetic leanings towards his home province and notes: “I play for Leinster and I respect Munster, but I want us to win and I’ll do everything possible to help us achieve that.”

Although still smarting from a Heineken Cup semi-final defeat, he sees the Magners League title as decent consolation. “This is where you want to be at this stage of the season, competing for a place in a big final. It has been a good, very challenging, league with a lot to play for right up to the last series of matches.”

And Reddan is convinced that the difficulties in this long season won’t go away tonight. “It’s sure to be a hard grind, a very physical game against a team that has proven itself throughout Europe. They won’t want any special motivation for this trip to Dublin; neither, of course, will we to host them,” he said. The scrum half enjoyed his most recent experience against Munster at Thomond Park when he had a positive impact on Leinster’s narrow victory. Yet, Reddan isn’t inclined to boast and merely described the experience as pleasant.

Old friend, Alan Quinlan will be lurking in the background ready to remind Reddan that circumstances can change quickly, especially between two such strong rivals. “Sometimes there can be a bit of banter, sometimes not; it depends on the mood, I suppose. Sure, there will be a bit of niggle; there always is, but the day you spend too long trying to upset the opposition rather than concentrate is probably the day you will perish.

“These derby games, crazy as they are, can be very quiet sometimes on the pitch between opponents, particularly if people are on their games. I remember Quinny especially when I was playing for Wasps against him; it would have been the first time I ever played (against) him in a big game, and I didn’t hear a word from him.

“He did really well and was so focused on what he was doing that he didn’t bother taking the time out trying to upset me; he just let his performance do the talking and that’s the way those games go sometimes.”