HEINEKEN CUP POOL TWO:THE ISSUE of respect is back on the table. Or make that disrespect.
In the aftermath, two New Zealanders Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter took turns addressing the many issues associated with this cracking game of rugby.
The friendship of this former double act – formed at the Bay of Plenty and continued, until last summer, at Clermont Auvergne – will abide after this fortnight but Cotter’s comments yesterday that Leinster disrespected his players will resonate all week.
“I think some of our players felt that sometimes, almost there was a lack of respect,” said Cotter. “I think our players are a little bit aggrieved by that so it will be an interesting old battle next week.”
The assembled media leaned in. To speak about a lack of respect just minutes after a hugely confrontational battle is a serious accusation. What exactly do you mean, Vern?
“I think we definitely have to get some clarification on how it is going be refereed (next week). Their efforts at slowing the ball down, I mean, that’s part of the game, and other tactics in place. We’ll be asking questions before the next game, how it’s going to be refereed. And try and adapt.
“We’ll try and stick to our principles of playing.
“It will be a great old game next week.”
It certainly will after those comments. Was this a criticism of referee Wayne Barnes (who refused to pull out any yellow cards)?
“I think Mr Barnes’s refereeing was good in the pack. There was very few penalties, both teams played positive footy, they wanted to play, they didn’t kick the ball a lot, both teams wanted to have a go. And the only way to get on top of a team like Leinster is to play against them.”
Although Leinster lost, it seems that Schmidt won the tactical battle or “chess match” between the two nomadic coaches.
“Joe knows us very well – he spent three years working with us. He had a strategy that was pretty well up to the mark. We learned something from today. It’ll help us prepare for the game in six days.
“We knew right from the start that to finish first (in the pool) we had to win twice against Leinster. So we know the whole season or the qualification will revolve around a great performance next week at the Aviva Stadium,” Cotter added.
Schmidt was unable to define the injury that Seán O’Brien sustained early in the first-half except to note: “It’s nothing to do with his head, I can say that much.”
O’Brien played on to the finish.
To add to an already decimated backline, number eight Jamie Heaslip damaged his ankle to prove he is not invincible after all.
Yesterday’s waterboy, Brian O’Driscoll, sees a specialist tomorrow to see if his jaw can handle the guaranteed collisions coming on Saturday but Schmidt made a valid point about his understudy.
“Eoin O’Malley would be pretty unlucky if Drico becomes available because he’s done a damn fine job.”
They may not have shown it but Clermont are hurting too. Both teams will be forced to dip into their squads after this vicious encounter.
For Schmidt and his players the defeat was devastating but he was able to recognise the positives.
“I’m learning the whole time and I have confidence in these players. I think they sense that. If anything, if there is something in a good defeat it is the one point and the belief that they get from this.”
