Matt O’Connor happy to embrace the Leinster ethos

Matt O’Connor knows that a practical examination of his credentials when the new season begins in a couple of weeks will be considerably more exacting than polite inquiries about his coaching philosophy and initial impressions of his role as Leinster’s new head coach.

The 42-year-old Australian has been in situ since July 1st and on Monday welcomed back the stragglers; those that had been on duty with the Lions in Australia. He’s had a little time to appraise his new surroundings, the playing personnel and coaching staff as well as the bricks and mortar of a new town.

It wouldn't have been an alien environment as O'Connor has been at the Leicester Tigers since 2008, first as backs' coach and then working in tandem with the club's director of rugby Richard Cockerill from 2010.

He knows Leinster and their ways. He also realises that his predecessor at the helm of the Irish province Joe Schmidt casts a long shadow as a coach and a man. Schmidt's achievements are spectacular no matter what the preferred yardstick. O'Connor won't dwell on the perceptions of others because it's a waste of time.

The Schmidt era has ended, the O'Connor one begins; he has control over just one. He has an impressive pedigree too, coming with a reputation as a very good analyst, innovative in approach and receptive to the claims of young players who prove their worth. He's not fussy about what it says on the birth certificate.

Positive relationship
So to coin an Irish expression, has he talked to Joe? "Yeah, we had a day at Carton House with all the coaches a couple of weeks ago, with Joe (Schmidt) trying to get us all on the same page and making sure there is that really high level of communication across the provinces from the IRFU. I think it will be a positive relationship; certainly it is shaping up to be that way."

He understands that managing transition is a fundamental tenet. He admitted: “We need to try and find that next tier of guys to fill the void that has been left by some really quality players. That is going to be an ongoing issue for the group.

“If you look at the senior guys who are going to be moving on in the next 12-24 months, there is going to be some significant changes. So it is trying to make sure that next tier have the necessary skills and understand the standard that goes with wearing the Leinster shirt.”

He's quite happy to discuss specific players, like Brian O'Driscoll and Ian Madigan while also offering his thoughts on the vacuum left by Jonathan Sexton and Isa Nacewa. "I think we are in a really good place with Brian as he is still going to be playing for us. If we manage his playing time, there is really good scope for us to look at the succession plan: what Leinster and Ireland do beyond Brian O'Driscoll.

Big season
"From my end I'd much prefer to have him in the (playing) environment than to be going in at the deep end without the quality of Brian within the group. We won't play him to death. I think he's shown over the years that he's never been found wanting if a challenge has been thrown his way and I'm sure he'll be looking to finish with a really big season.

"Ian (Madigan) showed towards the back end of last season that he had developed into a very, very good player at Heineken Cup level and on the end of season tour he was one of the best players according to the coaching group there.

“He hasn’t played a lot of rugby in the 10 shirt for Leinster because Johnny (Sexton) has been here and done such a fantastic job but if we think back four or five years who was Johnny Sexton? He was second fiddle to a foreigner and not playing a lot of rugby.

“When he took his opportunity he went from strength to strength. Hopefully Ian can do that. He certainly showed that he has the temperament and the ability to do that. Now he has to back that up, second season, third season.

"Jimmy Gopperth is a very good professional as well, who has been around the traps, who knows the game, who will step in there and do a job for us. It's different, post Johnny; it's different post Isa (Nacewa). At the end of the day those blokes in the group will get an opportunity to be the next big thing."

O’Connor confirmed that no decision had been taken about the captaincy but did assert that it would be the best candidate, irrespective of whether he had a commitment at a higher level.

The Australian seems up for the challenge.