Crocked Kearney sees big picture on trip to Africa

IF Munster didn’t manage to do it with their last-minute Magners League smash-and-grab last weekend, Rob Kearney should be well able to give Leinster a lesson in humility as their biggest Heineken Cup challenge of the season looms at the Aviva Stadium today.

The injured Irish and Lions international full-back had to go through the physical pain barrier in his long battle to recover from a knee injury, but put his own troubles in perspective yesterday as he recounted details of a week-long visit to Ethiopia as a good-will ambassador for the overseas aid charity Concern.

Although the Heineken Cup quarter-final weekend provides a thrilling focus for Kearney on his path to recovery, he can’t help thinking about what he left behind in Africa.

“I have been doing bits and pieces with them (Concern) over the last couple of years, but while I was out injured it gave me an opportunity to get perspective on my own life and make injury just a little more easy to deal with.

“I suppose it was in an ambassadorial role but the trip was to achieve two things, a bit of awareness for Concern in terms of programmes they do and to highlight the poverty out there, but also to achieve a sense of perspective for me to help deal a little bit easier with this injury and to come home a little bit more grounded and humble.”

Kearney, who moved from Concern to work on a promotion for Sky TV this week, is hoping to soon get a clean bill of health after a long-term treatment for a serious knee injury, the treatment requiring endless patience.

“It has been a long haul but I’m not even running yet; the recovery programme is quite basic, it’s about trying to get my knee to be able to sustain pressure again.

“It has been a lonely place. I’m training at very different times so I tend to go a good while without seeing the guys, although it can be mentally strengthening as well being on your own.”

On that note, he believes Leinster will also put Munster’s late victory march behind them too as they bid to advance to the last four against tournament specialists Leinster.

“Saturday’s result was both good and bad. We didn’t play our best rugby and took our foot off the pedal hugely in the second half, which you can’t do in sport. It was a gentle reminder that if you play in the first half and stop playing in the second half you will get punished.

“The intensity of a derby game with Munster was what you would want the week before a Heineken Cup, especially when you’re coming up against a team like Leicester, who are probably the most physical side in the tournament. But in terms of losing, it wasn’t ideal because you want to win every time you take the field.”

The physicality of the experience should help though, and Kearney firmly believes Leinster are good enough now to stand up to any of the bigger teams in Europe.

“Yeah, we’re up there too. We continued to prove that over the last couple of years. I don’t think it’s like the Leinster of maybe five years ago when our physicality and heart would be questioned. That is one of the areas of our game to have improved dramatically and has become part of our culture.

“I don’t feel matching them will be a problem, but we’re going to have to beat them for it.”

*Rob Kearney is working with Sky to promote the fact that new customers who sign up in Sky stores before the end of today will win tickets to an exclusive Sky 3D screening tomorrow and will also be entered into a draw to win tickets to the Heineken Cup final.