Croke Park date the target for Leinster's Michael Milne as he revels in South Africa challenge

Michael Milne comes from Offaly hurling stock and so the prospect of playing at Croke Park next week is "something special".

He was last there in August 2021, when his county's under-20s footballers won their All-Ireland final clash with Roscommon.

"Even that was something special," said the Leinster rugby prop from Birr who hurled up to under-17 level. “I was a full-forward. I wasn’t mobile enough to play anywhere else.

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“Whenever Offaly are there I'm there in Croker anyway. One of my good friends hurls with Offaly, Eoghan Cahill, the free-taker.

"Whenever they’re there in the Joe McDonagh. But I haven’t been there for any big days yet!”

The problem for the loosehead is that has to beat Cian Healy to a place in the province's squad for the Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints.

The good news for Milne is that he did just that for the quarter-final against La Rochelle, when he came on for the final 23 minutes for Andrew Porter.

In the warm-up to that game, veteran Healy was seen putting his arm around Milne's shoulder in a last show of support.

“When the team was named he was the first one to come over and shake my hand. He was so supportive all week.

"Church has done everything in the game so all you can do is learn off him.

"Anything I needed he was very helpful. Before the game he just made sure to say 'enjoy it, don’t let the occasion get the better of you'.

"I tried to do that. You learn so much from him.”

Milne was part of Ireland's under-20 Grand Slam winning team in 2019 and has watched some of his former team-mates such as Harry Byrne and Craig Casey progress to the senior Test arena.

Leinster's Cian Healy.
(Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher)

“It probably took me a few years to get up to the speed of things in professional rugby," he admitted.

"I probably came out of school a bit fat and lazy but got there eventually.

"You look at Bairdo (Ryan Baird) and lads like that, their form in internationals and for Leinster every week, and that gives you confidence to kick on.”

Now four years into his Leinster career, the 24-year-old hoped to make more of an impact coming into this season but after surgery last summer and a 10-week rehab he then required the same again.

"It was tough enough and then you see lads going well," Milne said.

"Look, I’m past all that now, so I’m delighted to get some games and tearing into some South Africans. As much game time as I can get. I’m loving it, it’s good.”

He came off the bench twice in last season's Champions Cup pool games, and started the URC quarter-final win and semi-final defeat.

Asked if it was a confidence boost to get the nod for a knock-out European game, he replied: "As a player you don’t look at it like that. You’re just trying to deliver.

"You’re obviously grateful that they trust you, but you’re like, ‘right, I’ve got a job to do now’.

"I’m not sure if I delivered as much as I wanted to, but obviously I was delighted to get the opportunity. It gives you confidence to kick on as well.

"You’re like ‘look, if I’m playing well you'll pick me’. That’s probably the big thing as well, isn’t it? You just keep putting performances together and hopefully you’ll get picked."

Investec Champions Cup Quarter-Final, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 13/4/2024 Leinster vs La Rochelle La Rochelle’s Will Skelton is tackled by Michael Milne of Leinster Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
(Image: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland)

With such a big selection call to be made for next week Milne will aim for a big performance against the Stormers on Saturday.

Leo Cullen noted that no-one put their hand up in last weekend's heavy defeat to the Lions and Milne is among those who know that can't happen again.

“I think he’s just honest, which is probably the great thing about Leo," said the former Roscrea schoolboy.

"He doesn’t sugar coat it, we weren’t good enough. As a player, all you want is coaches to be honest and tell you how it is.

"That’s all you want because then you can move on and focus on different performances. There’s no point in lying to us and we all know. Everyone is a good player here, so we’re definitely honest.”

This is his third tour of South Africa. "I can't get enough of it," he confessed. "I kind of love it over here.

“I learn how to scrum. You can see from 'Chasing The Sun' that they talk massively about the scrum.

"It’s something I need to focus on a lot in my game so coming over here and testing yourself against South African props is where you want to be and where you will learn.

"That’s why I love it so much. Even against the Lions, so much to work on.”

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