Kearney: Loss in final will mean season is a failure

Rob Keaney says Leinster have been successful this year with their results, but he has said that will change to complete failure if they don’t win this weekend.

The Leinster full-back spoke before training yesterday, as the province gear up for this weekend’s Rabo Direct Pro 12 final against Glasgow at the RDS.

From the very beginning of the season, Leinster knew they were going to be in transition following the loss of key names like Isa Nacewa, Johnny Sexton and of course Joe Schmidt.

Winning tournaments has become almost a rite of passage for them, as for the last five years, silverware of some sort, be it the Heineken Cup, The Amlin Cup or the Pro 12 Cup has had it’s place in the trophy cabinet of Leinster HQ in UCD.

It will be the third Pro 12 final in a row that the Dublin 4 venue has hosted, last year Leinster were victorious against Ulster but the year previous slipped to defeat against Ospreys.

Kearney says above all else winning this final is more important due to the transition the squad have gone through.

“Every final is a big one and playing a final at home is always nicer than a final away and given the nature of how we have finished over the last few years, it’s important given that transition.” Kearney said.

“Because we have won something over those years, it’s important to maintain that trend, our form has been pretty average this year and if you can still win a trophy at the end of it, it’s a good sign that it’s a strong team with good enough character to win trophies.”

“Any time you play a season and don’t win any trophies, it’s a failure, you set out at the start of the season to win both competitions and if you don’t do that, harsh enough as it is your season is a failure.”

Glasgow will arrive to Dublin with nothing to fear, they have been the most consistent team in the tournament this season and despite going behind in the semi-final, they came back to dominate Munster and win.

Kearney says despite his own team getting the results they needed, the Scottish side will be the form team.

“I think their defence has been the best for at least the last nine games on the bounce and when you let them into your own 22 they come away with points,” said Kearney.

“We will have to play field position really well, our discipline which has been poor and when you get to this final stage you can’t be like that.”