FOLLOWING on from his award as the Irish players’ player of the year and winning the Heineken Cup with Leinster, Rob Kearney was yesterday named ERC European Player of the Year 2012, succeeding last year’s inaugural winner, Seán O’Brien.
The 26-year-old was outstanding in Leinster’s retention of the Heineken Cup. Peerless under the high ball, Kearney carried for more metres than any other player in the tournament.
He scored six tries in his nine appearances, including a brace in the quarter-final win over Cardiff Blues, and there were a host of try-scoring passes, not least during his virtuoso 10-minute spell after the interval in the semi-final win away to Clermont, when setting up Cian Healy’s try and landing a monster drop goal in a man-of-the-match performance.
Doubtful with a back injury for the final, as Joe Schmidt acknowledged afterwards, Kearney’s 30- metre sprint and leap to catch a high ball early on was one of the final’s defining moments. Remarkable all season long, it’s doubtful there is a better fullback in the world.
Compared to where he was a year ago, it is quite a turnaround for Kearney, who was obliged to watch Leinster’s win over Northampton from the stands after effectively missing the entire 2011-12 season with a career-threatening knee injury.
“I know, it’s crazy but that’s the beauty of sport, isn’t it? The award really is an honour but without trying to whinge and go on too much about last year because every player gets injured, and it’s something everyone has to deal with, but just with Isa going so well there you’re just a forgotten man so quickly. I think for me that’s been the most pleasing thing.”
Besides he attributes his rejuvenation this season to his enforced break, watching brief, Isa Nacewa’s form and Schmidt. “This is the first year I’ve been exposed to his level of coaching, and I suppose just a hunger as well. I really felt as if I missed out a lot on last year and when a player misses a season the other guys look to you a little bit as well just because they expect you to add something when you come back.”
He particularly attributes his improved distribution to Schmidt’s influence.
Having also been left on the bench when Leinster won the 2009 final against Leicester, Saturday’s belated first Heineken Cup final had been “a real goal at the start of the season that I was going to do everything in my power to be in a position to play in and win a final. There was something real special about winning the Heineken Cup with your best mates.”
It was made all the sweeter by playing alongside his younger brother Dave, and with their parents David and Siobhán in the stands. “There was something real special about the weekend. I read somewhere that we’re one of five sets of brothers to have done it, so that’s really nice, and it’s nice for mum and dad too and I’m delighted for him because I think he’s had a really strong season. He’s improved a huge amount.”
There remain a couple more boxes to fill, starting with this Sunday’s attempt to complete the double against the Ospreys at the RDS in the Pro 12 final, and then the tour to New Zealand. “Straight away after the final whistle it was about next week, next final. You can’t put into words just how awesome it is to be involved in an environment where everyone just wants to be winners and keep achieving. That for me was probably the standout thought of the day.”
Despite having only a seven-day break prior to a season which is set to run into its 11th month with that three-Test tour, Kearney maintained: “It’s so easy when you’re winning, your team’s playing well, picking up awards. You want to keep going. You don’t want to stop at all. I think we’re lucky. We’re really well looked after and to be fair to the IRFU, they deserve a huge amount of credit for that because we’re all pretty much in really good shape and I think it’ll stand to us going on tour.”
2011-12 SEASON IN FIGURES
Leinster:
Played 14 (+1 Rep)
Tries 7
Minutes 1105
Heineken Cup Pl 9, Tries 6)
Ireland:
Played 11
Tries 1
Minutes 835
Total
Played 25 (+1 R)
Tries 8
Minutes 1940
