Mallinder hopes Saints have learned painful lesson
Mallinder’s side looked set to win only their second Heineken Cup when they swept into a 22-6 half-time lead in the Millennium Stadium. But Leinster, inspired by an astonishing display by Jonny Sexton, staged a Lazurus-esque comeback as they scored 27 unanswered points to be anointed European champions for the second time in three years.
And that has given Mallinder and his young side all the motivation they need as they kick off this season’s competition with a trip to Thomond Park on Saturday.
“I’ve had more than a few sleepless nights thinking about that game, or specifically the second-half,” said the Franklin’s Gardens boss. “We will probably never get over it. We got the best of the first half and Leinster got the best of the second — in the end they were worthy champions.
“But we know what we have to do. We have the potential to be champions, and now we want to make sure we get better and achieve that. I think that loss will serve us well in the long run. It showed we need strength in depth and need to play at that high level for 80 minutes.
“I would rather our players had gone through the experience of losing in a Heineken Cup final, losing in World Cups and Premiership semi-finals — sometimes you need to suffer, to go through that and learn your lessons.
“But as a club we have won a couple of small trophies, but not a big one — that means the Heineken Cup or the Premiership.
“It’s Munster up first. We won all three of our away games in the pool stages last season and we will aim to do the same again, but we know how difficult it will be at Thomond.”
And Mallinder has rejected suggestions that Munster are not the force of old, when they won the Heineken Cup twice in three years between 2006 and 2008. People have talked about Munster not being quite as good as they were, but they’re tough. Last season they beat Leinster in the Magners League final, and we know how good they are.
“They have top-class internationals, quality individuals, not just from Ireland but all over the world. They recruit incredibly well and it will be an almighty battle if we are to beat them, and we know we will have to be at our very, very best to do so.
“And Thomond is probably still the most intimidating stage in Europe. It’s a fantastic rugby stadium, but it’s not just about the game, it’s the whole build-up all weekend.
“You sense it as soon as you arrive in Ireland, and we have had that experience when we lost twice to Munster in the 2009/10 season.
“It’s a tough pool as Castres are very tough to beat and the Scarlets are a quality side. But we know we can go through, and we want to win the thing.”
Yet Mallinder’s psychological skills will be put firmly to the test as he attempts to lift a set of players demoralised by disappointing World Cup campaigns.
He added: “They were all very disappointed with how the World Cup went, but they’re desperate to play for Northampton now.
“They all know the best way to recover is to get out there and show themselves, each other, and everyone watching what they can do.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
