LEGENDARY Springbok lock Victor Matfield believes Leinster’s recent struggles to get over the line in major competitions point to a fragile mindset within Irish rugby.
The Bulls and South Africa icon was speaking to OffTheBall ahead of Saturday’s URC Grand Final, where Leinster will attempt to end a four-year wait for silverware.
Reflecting on Leinster’s repeated near-misses in both Europe and the URC, Matfield suggested their star-studded squad has underdelivered.
When pressed about if there was a “mental frailty” amongst Irish teams, he said: “There must be – especially with the Leinster team- this team should have taken five or six trophies in the last six years. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
He pointed to the province’s long-standing focus on chasing a double as potentially proving costly for Leo Cullen’s team.
He added: “I think it was a focus being almost ultimately on the double [URC and Champions Cup]. They want to win the Champions Cup; they want to win the URC.”
“I mean, the quality team that they are, they should actually win both trophies every year. And that didn’t happen.
“That’s why I say, although there’s this thing there, it’s bugging them.”
With their European campaign now over following defeat to Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup semi-final, Matfield believes the sole URC focus could work in their favour.
He added: “I think this year will be different because they’re out of the Champions Cup – it’s only the URC to focus on.
“Although it should be easier to focus for them, everything is going into this game now. They’re throwing everything at it.”
The 2007 World Cup winner dismissed the notion that Leinster players might be distracted by next summer’s British and Irish Lions tour.
He concluded: “Someone said last night that they hope Leinster have one eye on the British and Irish Lions.
“But I don’t think… This Leinster team want to win that trophy.”
The action get underway from 5pm KO, live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1.
