Sentiment on hold as silverware is in sight

KEITH GLEESON INTERVIEW: John O'Sullivantalks to the Leinster openside flanker who is expected to play his final home game in his Leinster career before retirement

If sentiment was permitted into tomorrow evening's RDS schedule then Keith Gleeson would cross for a try or two, win the man of the match award and than depart from the pitch a couple of minutes ahead of the final whistle to a standing ovation. Unfortunately sporting curtain calls are rarely neatly parcelled.

There's no doubt the 31-year-old openside flanker would forgo any personal acclaim if guaranteed a Leinster victory, thereby confirming the Magners League title for the province. He is the consummate professional; an articulate, intelligent sportsman both on and off the pitch, a player of singular focus and great skill, copper fastened by a voracious work ethic.

Tomorrow evening he's expected to play - coach Michael Cheika won't officially announce his team until lunch-time - his final home game in his Leinster career, before retiring at the end of the season and later in the year returning to Australia to become gainfully employed in the family business in Sydney.

His strength of character can be gleaned from the manner in which he fought back from an horrendous leg break four years ago. Cheika and his team-mates have spoken about his excellent form this season so his decision to announce his retirement a few weeks ago isn't based on a diminishing contribution to the team.

Gleeson's choice though was made at the beginning of the season and offers a revealing insight into the person as much as the player. "I guess in reality that I have known all season that this was going to be my last. I played with the aim of enjoying it, didn't want to have any regrets. It was about playing as hard as I can, playing as well as I can.

"I certainly think this season I have played some of my best rugby.

"It's been a fabulous year for me personally and the team. It was one of the reasons why when I knew it was going to be my last season, I didn't announce it until the end of the Six Nations.

"I didn't want it to be something that was going to distract me. I wanted everyone around me to feel that I was going to be playing here next season and that I wasn't going to give an inch, even on the training pitch. I wanted to be part of the Leinster team on a regular basis this season."

He kept his counsel from his family to boot but now that he's made his intentions known, he's determined to avoid any nostalgia until the silverware is assured.

Cheika's more strident application of a rotational policy this season has ensured the squad has stayed fresh and that is endorsed by Gleeson's assertion he feels he could play for another three months. It's a common feeling amongst the squad, a commonality that also extends to the resolve ahead of tomorrow evening's game against the Dragons.

There is a general expectation that the Dragons are merely bit-part players in Leinster's Magners League coronation, an assertion against which the blue-clad players' rail. For the past two seasons the province has been at the business end of affairs on the final weekend of the league but there was no silver lining.

The defeat against Edinburgh last time out recalibrated Leinster's focus. Those who scoff that the Magners League is a minor bauble in European rugby's trinket room would do well not to share their thoughts with Gleeson.

"Michael Cheika's mantra since day one when he arrived (at Leinster) was that the Magners League was the bread and butter competition, that we had to perform consistently well in that league: one, if we want to win it and two, that we wanted to use it as a stepping board to play the big games in Europe.

"The last three seasons we have had results in the Magners League, losing it on the last weekend of the last two seasons but we have been up there. This season we have performed better again. We'd won one game in the last three seasons in Wales with Leinster: this season we have won three of our games there with one to come.

"So by performing consistently well we have put ourselves in the position that we are in now, where we can go into this game with a focus but a relaxed mindset (at the same time)."

So how would he analyse himself as a player? "I was never the biggest, I was never the quickest; I have always had good skill but I have always worked tremendously hard my whole career. No one can ever deny me that and that's the thing that has got me past a lot of players who were bigger, stronger and quicker.

"I hope that attribute goes forward with me in life. I have always believed if you want stuff you have to go out and get it yourself. No one will hand it to you on a platter. This year has been terrific. I also always believed in professional sport that the day you say you know everything is the day you'll start going backwards. There are kids out there who see you as their idol so to speak but they want to be better than their idol. Whilst I play until the last day of my career I want to be practising, training hard and being the best I can be."

Gleeson has his short-term future mapped out in a loose way. His wife is expecting their first child and when he finishes up with Leinster they'll do a bit of travelling before heading for Sydney in September where he'll swap tracksuit for pinstripe.

First though there is the potential to collect some silverware; a fitting manner for an outstanding professional sportsman to sign off.

Keith Gleeson Factfile
Position:Wing forward
Club:St Mary's College RFC
Province:Leinster
School:St Aloysius College, Sydney
Date of Birth:17/06/1976 (31)
Height:6' 1"
Weight:100kg
Official Leinster caps:119
Points Scored:60 (12 tries)
Celtic League/Cup caps:74 (7 tries) European Cup caps: 43 (5 tries)
Senior debut:(Celtic League) 39-11 win v Glasgow at Donnybrook, August 17th, 2001
European Cup debut:40-10 win v Toulouse at Donnybrook, September 28th, 2001
Ireland caps:27
Ireland points:25 (5 tries)
Ireland A caps:6
Other honours:Australia Barbarians, Australia Under-19 (1995), Australia Under-21 (1996 and 1997 captain)