Murphy's law delivers the goods for Leinster

UNDER-20 INTERPROVINCIAL SERIES: John O'Sullivantalks to the province's head coach whose charges completed the clean sweep as they retained the interprovincial crown

THIS SEASON Richie Murphy took over the mantle of head coach with the Leinster Under-20 team aware of a certain pressure and expectation.

For the past three years Leinster have won that particular age-grade interprovincial series.

There are swingeing changes in terms of playing personnel to contend with on an annual basis but the 34-year-old knew the present crop was highly regarded.

Comfort would also be provided by the experienced and knowledgeable presence of former Ireland secondrow Gabriel Fulcher (forwards coach) and Dave Fagin (strength and conditioning) with Tony O'Beirne fulfilling the managers role.

Preparation for what is essentially a very short season in terms of competitive fare began in early July. Leinster then played four warm-up matches against English Counties, Navan, Clontarf and Connacht before embarking on the interprovincial series.

Victories over Ulster (27-17) and Munster (16-3) provided Leinster with an opportunity for a clean sweep, albeit against a fine Connacht side with whom they had drawn 10-10 in the warm-up clash between the provinces.

It took a try from number eight Michael Noone deep into injury time at the end of the match to preserve Leinster's unbeaten record as they squeezed home 17-10.

Murphy admitted: "Obviously we're delighted to have won all three matches as that was the target prior to the start of the campaign.

"There is a certain element of pressure in your first year knowing that Leinster had won the interpros at this age level for the three previous years."

He knew exactly what he wanted to achieve and how to go about it.

"We set out with the ambition to play a 15-man game. All the forwards can handle the ball and we have some real quality in the backs. You can't do it all the time but we wanted to impose our style on our opponents.

"Did we achieve that? We scored four tries against Ulster so I suppose I'd have to say 'yes' in that game. Against Munster we were probably guilty of elevating difficulty levels of execution by trying to throw those one-in-a-million passes after we established a lead.

"Connacht were a very good side, the best we have played against and there was very little in it that day. I was fortunate that we had 26 players who could genuinely have made the starting team. Player development is so important. It's one thing winning the matches but you would want to see as many players come through to professional rugby as possible.

"The Ireland Under-20 training squad will be released over the next few days and we wanted to get as many players into that as we could."

Murphy's background facilitated his new role. Since October 2004, he's been an Elite Player Development Officer in Leinster while also assisting the Academy management in technical sessions, running the underage development programme for Leinster.

He was encouraged in adopting expansive patterns of play for the under-20s by Leinster coach Michael Cheika, who has been monitoring the next generation of potential senior players.

"Cheiks has been very keen for the players to express themselves in the way they play and has been supportive in everything we have tried to do.

"My involvement in the academy and the sub academy means that I'd have a good idea of the talent filtering through to this level over the next couple of seasons," added Murphy.

The appointment as under-20 coach is a one-year rolling deal but this season's success certainly won't hinder hopes of another year in charge for the current incumbent.

That would be something Murphy would relish especially as the province also completed a clean sweep of victories in the under-19 interprovincial series.