Northampton Saints get an emotion-charged potted history of 'why Ireland hate England'

Club's Irish physio took the Saints players through the history of Croke Park this week - leaving some Northampton stars with goose bumps

Alex Waller: "There'll be a bit of emotion, I'm sure, but it's something we're not looking to focus on.” Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images)

A well-timed Irish history lesson has primed Northampton Saints for what to expect when they run out at a sold-out Croke Park to face Leinster on Saturday.

The Champions Cup semi-final, which the GAA accommodated when Aviva Stadium was handed over to UEFA to prepare for this month’s Europa League final, is the first game of club rugby on Jones Road since Munster and Leinster duked it out in 2009. 

And thanks to some gratefully received input from the English Premiership club’s Irish-born Strength & Conditioning coach Eamonn Hyland at a team meeting on Monday, Saints are fully aware this will be a meaningful return in front of 82,300 mostly home supporters.

“Eamonn gave us a brief, in-depth history lesson, about 900 years of history in just over 10 minutes,” veteran prop Alex Waller said Tuesday.

“He gave us the main points and spoke passionately about what Croke Park will mean to the lads - and what it means to Ireland as a whole. And the history behind it, which is very deep and interesting.

“Then you take into account what it means to the boys who grew up there, maybe playing there for the first time, and it certainly adds a little bit of spice. We're only the second club game to play there after Munster v Leinster so we're the first English club team to play there. Obviously, England have played there. There'll be a bit of emotion, I'm sure, but it's something we're not looking to focus on.” 

Eamonn Hyland, strength and conditioning coach at Northampton.

There was clearly some emotion in Hyland’s delivery with Saints’ England fly-half Fin Smith, some 12 years Waller’s junior at 22, adding: “I was pretty moved by it, sitting there with goosebumps - which I was not expecting on a Monday morning. It was a great tone-setter for the week coming up. He's a proud Irishman and he did a real good job of it. He's not the type of guy who usually talks in meetings but he's earned himself another slot if he wants it. It was very impressive.

“It was a real eye-opener to all of the (history) and to probably how hostile it's going to be. But it was good to find that out towards the start of the week rather than when I'm taking my first kick at goal!” 

Forewarned is forearmed and Smith said he make the most of Thursday’s captain’s run kicking practice when Saints will get their first taste of the Croke Park expanses.

“I might play around on Thursday, trying to deal with the crowd noise when I'm kicking, with some headphones on, white noise. As much as you can say it won't affect you and you'll block it out, when you have 82,000 people - for the first time, at the stage of my career - getting on your back as you're focusing on a skill, it's bound to have some bearing.” 

For director of rugby and former Saints playing stalwart Phil Dowson, there was some prior knowledge and the memory of a visit to Kilmainham Gaol on a previous trip to Dublin.

“There's a museum there and I went round it and realised that's why Ireland hate England,” Dowson said. “Because it's not taught in English schools, which I find extraordinary. Appreciating and understanding that from the Irish point of view as a venue is important for young English people, not just rugby players.” 

The lesson already gratefully received by his players, though, will have to do for now and Dowson added: “It's absolutely fundamental that we have an appreciation of the history and significance of Croke Park, both culturally and historically, in the Irish battle for independence, in their psyche, in the whole GAA.

“That's mainly important because we should have an understanding of the history, regardless of whether we are playing rugby there or not, and we should understand that. But we should also understand the influence it will have on the playing group and the crowd and the implications for that around the atmosphere.

“At the same time we are not playing against ghosts. We need an appreciation and respect for the history, but then we have to get our game on the field. We need to play appropriately, give the occasion the respect it deserves by being in a semi-final at Croke Park. We'll take it all into account and respect it by flying in.” 

Dowson said club captain Lewis Ludlam and wing Ollie Sleightholme were doubts for the semi-final with the latter going through return to play protocols following a concussion in last Saturday’s Premiership loss to Harlequins at Twickenham.

“He's not definitely ruled out but also not definitely in,” the Saints boss said. “Ollie has been fantastic. You can't defend raw speed and Ollie has got that and he's been getting better at how he engages in games.

“He's been in good form and hopefully he can turn it around, but James Ramm, Tom Seabrook, George Hendy…all these guys have played minutes and been good as well.” Of back-rower Ludlam, he added: “Lewis has a shoulder issue for us which isn't great but we're giving him as much times as possible to turn that round.”