Hugo Keenan backs Leinster's 'exciting' appointment of Noel McNamara
OLD FRIENDS: Bordeaux Begles attack coach Noel McNamara with Harry Byrne of Leinster after the Champions Cup final match t San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Hugo Keenan has given a firm thumbs up to the confirmation that Noel McNamara will be Leinster’s head coach and is confident that the new man’s “different perspective” will be a huge asset to the province when he joins next summer.
The Co. Clare man, currently attack coach with Bordeaux-Begles back-to-back Champions Cup winners, has previously worked with the Sharks in South Africa and in numerous other positions with Leinster and in the wider Irish rugby environment.
His is a CV that can boast a line at most levels of the game short of the senior Test level and Keenan, the Ireland full-back prepping for a meeting with Argentina this Friday, could have hardly given McNamara a more glowing endorsement.
“I think it's great news. I've got a good relationship with him. Would have worked with them in the past, both at UCD originally - he was the head coach there when I was playing AIL, when was I sort of between the [Leinster] Academy and Sevens and playing AIL rugby - and then dealt with them as well for the ‘A’ team in Leinster, and know him well.
“Obviously that was a couple of years ago, and he's progressed so well since. We know what he's achieved at Bordeaux and been on the better side of a few results than us recently. So it's an exciting appointment. It's good to have, yeah, good to have him on board, and that's the general feedback amongst the amongst the squad.”
That peripatetic career had caught the eye long before he was confirmed as Leo Cullen’s successor. Keenan aside, he has worked with at least 16 of the other senior players in Leinster’s current squad between schools, club, Leinster A’s and Ireland underage sides.
His first stint abroad was a short spell with North Harbour in New Zealand and he has joined other Irish coaches – Ronan O’Gara, Jerry Flannery, Mike Prendergast among them - by broadening his horizons in the years since.
Keenan is convinced this will mix nicely with his insider knowledge of Leinster.
“Yeah, absolutely. I'm sure he's got a different perspective of things, getting out of the building, going down to South Africa, challenging himself down there, and then going so well and thriving at Bordeaux.
“And you see what their backline and attacks have been producing. I suppose that's his fingerprint on it, and yeah, excited to see what he has and to work with him. It's positive for me and everyone, and for Leinster. It's obviously big boots to fill with Leo, and there were lots of candidates in the mix as well.” McNamara, said Keenan, “knows what Leinster is about” and that outside influence can “grow the way” they play while staying true to the DNA of a club that is expected to combine style with the substance of winning.
“So that's important. His man management and his presence in a room: I still remember it from the get-go, from when he was a head coach back in the day, how well he speaks, and I'm sure that's the same again. And then we have talked about the technical points on the backs and the attack that he can bring as well. So yeah, it's exciting.”
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