HEINEKEN CUP FINAL:BOB CASEY is having an interesting week. Just 24 hours after captaining London Irish in the most significant game of his career last Saturday he met up with the Ireland squad in Heathrow for a flight to Vancouver.
Losing the Guinness Premiership final to the Leicester Tigers must have been a crushing experience but Casey had no time to mope as nine years in the international wilderness was ended by Declan Kidney on Tuesday.
Casey won his first cap aged just 20 when coming on as a temporary replacement in the World Cup defeat to Australia at Lansdowne Road. The memory of this giant lock jogging into a lineout and leaping above the great John Eales before a patched up Malcolm O’Kelly could return still lingers. Many predicted a great Test innings. He wins his sixth cap at the Thunderbird Stadium tomorrow (10pm Irish time).
“Yeah, nine years, I think it is a record for a gap between caps.” Is that a world record, Bob? “No, Jesus, I hope not! An Irish record.”
Casey was one of the younger victims of Warren Gatland’s clearout following the 50-18 defeat at Twickenham in 2000. He also featured in Lens the night Argentina shocked the rugby world.
When Eddie O’Sullivan became Ireland coach in 2001 the door was slammed firmly shut. At one point, a few seasons back, O’Sullivan stated his work-rate was not up to scratch despite inclusion in the Premiership XV.
One of the most affable people in the game, Casey put his head down but kept sending the tapes home to no avail. His rejection surely had an impact on London Irish team-mates Nick Kennedy, Declan Danaher and most notably, Shane Geraghty declaring for England.
Sport has a funny way of producing ridiculous moments of irony, particularly when it comes to second chances. Next week it is not inconceivable he will lead Ireland out against the US Eagles, now coached by the man who flatly refused to recognise his physicality or lineout supremacy with so much as a squad inclusion, while provincial reserves gathered caps.
Either way, Casey should feature in Santa Clara, whether he is captain is dependant on Rory Best’s proposed call-up to the Lions tour.
Anyway, having recently gone to war with the Tigers leaves him well positioned to comment on what’s coming tomorrow evening in Murrayfield.
“It is always a very specific type of game against Leicester; basically, a massive physical battle. Their main thing is momentum. What they do is fairly straight forward but eventually they break you down.
“That happened to us in the second half, but only once, when they scored their try. That was enough, though, as it is very hard to come back at Leicester once they have a lead. They are very streetwise and it becomes difficult to score against them.
“I think the breakdown will be a massive area. They are all brilliant at getting in over the ball and they like to make it difficult for you. Not just their backrow. All their players are told to do that. But I think Leinster have enough for them in the physical collisions with Shane Jennings, Rocky Elsom and Jamie Heaslip. I see them winning the breakdown battle.”
Part of the Leinster set-up since leaving Blackrock in 1996 until his move to London in July 2002, Casey firmly believes the current group have shook off the unreliable tag that has haunted them.
“The inconsistency of years gone by, I think, is gone now. That is down to the leadership of the players like Leo (Cullen), Shane and Rocky. These guys have brought a hard edge to the team. I can’t see them dropping off after the standards they have set for themselves.
“This Leinster pack has stood up to everything thrown at them this season. Okay, sometimes the lineout hasn’t been up to scratch and the scrum has buckled but on the whole they work hard for 80 minutes. They are a very difficult side to break down. They back themselves in big games.”
Do you think they will win? “I hope so. Yeah, I think they’ll win.”
With that he was off to meet Vancouver-based ex-pat and fullback on the Blackrock Dream Team, Tommy Keating, for a home-cooked dinner. A rarity on tour.
