Dillyn Leyds wary of Leinster response after domestic ‘hit’

The Irish province were beaten by rivals Munster Rugby in the BKT United Rugby Championship semi-finals last weekend and suffered defeat at the hands of La Rochelle in last year’s Heineken Champions Cup final.

Leyds, who was Heineken Star of the Match in the 2022 showpiece game in Marseille, says the loss to Munster will undoubtedly provoke a reaction from Leinster.

“Like any team when you get beaten at home, especially in a knockout game, you take a bit of a hit,” the South African said.

“You want to come back firing shots early. You want to show maybe it was just a tough day as a team.

“We had similar situations this season in the TOP 14 where we lost at home and the week leading up to the next game is all about training with a bit of pride.

“They (Leinster) are a bunch of quality international players and they know how to react after a loss like that.

“With the final in a couple of days, I don’t think they will be focusing too much on what happened (against Munster), but (it will be about) how they can fix and react to this final.”

La Rochelle are playing in the Heineken Champions Cup final for a third successive season, with last year’s triumph their first ever EPCR title.

Leyds explained the influence head coach Ronan O’Gara – the former Munster and Ireland fly-half, who is the all-time leading points scorer in the Heineken Champions Cup – has had on the club during his tenure.

“I think everyone in the rugby world knows that ROG is the kind of guy who always wants to win,” he said. “Every little thing, every small detail, nothing is not important to him.

“That’s what he has brought to this club. All we want to do is win and have that feeling every single time.

“Whether it’s a little battle in training or whether it’s getting into the kick-chase line or something like that – I think that’s the kind of mindset that he has brought here.

“Yes, we can have fun as a group off the field, there are certain times that we can joke and have a laugh, but when it’s time to do your job, do your job, and do it to the best of your ability.

“The direction the club is going now, you can see the kind of players we are attracting, guys want to be a part of this, and he (O’Gara) has obviously done a hell of a lot for the club. The players and everyone involved really enjoyed working with him.

“He has obviously a long-term deal to stay with the club, so hopefully as a group we can continue to work hard, not just for him, but for each other, and hopefully put the club in a position where we can continue to win trophies.”

O’Gara is gunning for his second Heineken Champions Cup title as a coach, which would match the haul he achieved during his playing career – he was a winner with Munster in 2006 and 2008.