Leinster told they have more to fear from Munster than they do from the ghosts of Croke Park
"At the end of the day rugby is fifteen-versus-fifteen, Don't get lost in the hype. It's a great place to go and play, don't get lost in the occasion."
Leinster dealt with Croke Park, history, mystique, truths, legends and all that it might entail first thing yesterday morning.
Noted Irish historian Paul Rouse gave it the whole nine yards yards - Hill 16, Bloody Sunday, the Twelve Apostles, Hogan, Cusack, Nally, the IRA, IRB from ABC to GAAHQ to XYZ.
Before coming to the simple conclusion that the Blues have less to fear from the ghosts of the faithful departed than they have of Gavin Coombes, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey and the rest of the Red cadre this Saturday.
READ MORE: Munster boss Graham Rowntree addresses injury worries as Peter O'Mahony added to casualty list
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"We had Paul in this morning to talk a little bit about the history of Croke Park,” said Forwards Coach Robin McBryde who has previous experience of the venue from his time with Wales squad.
"One of the things I took away from it, it was only a 15-20 minute presentation where he went through the history and detail of the place, but he also said 'don't make any more of it than what it is'.
"Declan Darcy has great experience of playing there as well, Dec was saying at the end of the day rugby is fifteen-versus-fifteen, Don't get lost in the hype. It's a great place to go and play, don't get lost in the occasion."
McBryde was in upbeat form, suggesting Leinster and in that, in most cases, their early season form has helped blow away last season's URC and Champions Cup disappointments.
"I think you have to talk individually. I’ll just say looking at it from the outside, from my point of view Ciarán Frawley, he's got over it by his actions - see him nailing that drop kick out in South Africa.
"I congratulated him, said ‘fair play to you,’ and thought that’s bloody great, shame you couldn’t do it a couple of weeks earlier but I’m not blaming him.
"That’s the nature of the game, it is how you dust yourself off and get back up. We had the ‘man in the arena' as our sort of theme last season, so it is not the critic that counts.
"You have to live by that, be able to put yourself out there, not worry about the end result really. You have to give it your best shot.
"If on the day it is not quite there, just dust yourself off, get back on the horse and go again. We have had to do that over the past three years. It’s no different this year which is one positive, if you can call it a positive, knowing that we have been here before.
"It would be great if we get ourselves in a position to win it. I do genuinely sense that there is a different feel, a different vibe about the place."
The arrival of Tyler Bleyendahl and RG Snyman has added to the collective.
"Tyler is a new face, a new voice in the building. Jacques’ (Nienaber) role is a little bit different to what it was last year.
"There is a great feel about the place, it is a little bit different, ‘it’s not here we go again.’ It’s a slightly different way of playing both in attack and defence really.
"Jacques has his feet under the table for a bit longer now and with Tyler on board - I am the only voice that they are sick of hearing probably!"
Springbok Snyman and French import Rabah Slimani have been fresh to the group - and a revelation.
"I think RG has been brilliant, really good in the group. I would say the same thing about Rabah as well. There are two experienced individuals, they know who they are, they are not trying to be anything that they are not.
"It’s great that James Ryan and RG, they were playing on opposite teams, calling the lineouts against each other in South Africa during the summer and now they are working side by side, learning from each other.
"I've mentioned before about the melting pot of views, different pairs of eyes, different ways of doing things. As you see my role is making sure that I get the best out of all those players in the right way.
"They all have their own qualities; encourage them to bring it to the fore and make sure that we are all aligned, pulling in the same direction. He (Snyman) has been great as has Rabah been brilliant to work with so far. "
Meanwhile Leinster are monitoring the situation with regard to the no2 shirt and are still optimistic Ireland international Ronan Kelleher will be available.
"Rónan is being assessed, we've got Gus coming back from South Africa," said McBryde.
"He's had a great start to the season, he's impressed, I thought Lee went well at the weekend as well so we'll see how Rónan goes.
"Stevie Smyth is in South Africa as well, so we're a bit depleted with regards to that but I think we'll be okay but Lee Barron and Gus McCarthy are ready and they've been around the squad long enough.
"Lee in particular. Gus has had a great start to the season as well, the pre-season games and when he's played for us he did well and then on the back of two performances out with Emerging Ireland as well, hopefully his confidence will be as high as ever and he'll be good to go."
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