LEINSTER lock James Ryan insists the Blues are blocking out the noise ahead of Saturday’s URC semi-final against Glasgow.
The Ireland and Lions ace and says the squad has no time for outside opinions following last month’s European heartbreak.
The Ireland lock was speaking as Leo Cullen’s side gear up for another high-stakes clash, this time at home against reigning champions Glasgow Warriors at Aviva Stadium.
Leinster faced media and fan backlash after another year of European heartbreak after being heavily fancied to win the premier club rugby competion.
But Ryan insist the don’t care about the nay sayers as their primer focus in now firmly on the URC title.
Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s clash, Ryan was in no mood to speak about the past.
He stated: “We’re try to ignore it, you know what I mean. Everyone has an opinion now, and that’s just the way it is”
“For us, it comes back to ourselves. What matters most is what we think as players and coaches as how the games have gone.
“We’ve some of the best coaches in the world at this club. Ultimately we are our own harshest critics..I think.
“We’ve put our hands up – the performance wasn’t good enough – especially against Northampton. But we have to move on now, we’re into knockout rugby.
“Now it’s just about getting excited about this week, playing at home in a semi-final.
“If you told us in July that we’d have had a home semi, we’d have bitten your hand off. So, the guys are excited to get going again.”
Meanwhile, Lions duo Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan are absent for Leinster tomorrow.
But boss Leo Cullen insisted that both are okay for the Lions, and could resume training next week IF Leinster can secure a final date at Croke Park.
Josh Van der Flier limped out of last week’s 33-21 victory over Scarlets with a hamstring issue.
While full-back Hugo Keenan has a slight calf issue that flared up during the week.
And that meant both miss out and join fellow Lions’ Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose (both calf) in the treatment room, though all four are expected to be fit soon.
