GONE , NOT FORGOTTEN
Former Wasps stalwart Will Green will be taking on the side he helped beat, on that unforgettable Twickenham day in May 2004. Barney Burnham caught up with Will, before he headed off to France.
BB: You're nearing the end of your first season with Leinster, Will. Things seem to be going well on the pitch. How about off the pitch? You must have fond memories of Dublin, after the classic game against Munster (if you can remember anything, after that night's celebrating!). How easy has it been to adjust to life there and how different is it from London?
WG: Life is brilliant over here and Charlotte, Arthur and I have really enjoyed the change of scene. It is more relaxed than London, which has been a real plus. Charlotte travels back and forth to London a fair bit with her work and Arthur is in a local nursery where he has picked up an Irish lilt and calls himself - Ar..ttuur!!!
BB: What about on the field? After so many years with Wasps, was it hard to settle in to a different rugby environment? Is the Leinster set-up hugely different from what you'd been used to?
WG: It has been very refreshing, professionally, to come into a new set-up. When I first arrived there were a lot of things that needed changing, but very quickly, the new coach - Michael Cheika, whom I rate highly - has made significant changes. This has been mainly the facilities and infrastructure which has had a good effect on the team. I didn't find it hard to settle into a new set-up as rugby players the world over are pretty much the same - train hard, play hard and enjoy the odd pint!!
BB: How does the Celtic League compare with the Premiership?
WG: Celtic League is tough. It is a different tournament to the Premiership, because it is in set blocks in the season - September/October, December/January and April/May. This has been difficult to adapt to - not having week in, week out rugby - but it's something which you have to get used to. You will not draw me on which is tougher, as I find every game very tough at my age!
BB: Many of us were thrilled to see that Heineken Cup game at Bath, where Brian O'Driscoll played like a god, and an ageing prop showed an astonishing turn of speed (on more than one occasion). Was that Leinster's best performance since you've joined?
WG: I think it probably was, and it has given us enormous confidence to go to Toulouse this weekend. Bath have stuggled this year but they did beat Wasps the following week, so they can't be that bad!
BB: You'll be playing Toulouse in Le Stadium, where the atmosphere is intense, to say the least - listen out for the air raid siren! I assume that you've been studying their past games, including our visit there in January. Have you spotted anything there to work on, and are you confident that you can pull off a win?
WG: All teams have special moments when they mature and this weekend is a key time in our evolution as a team - we can win. We must win our ball and not give them turnovers. They are the best team in the world off turnovers. This is why I still play - for games like this. I love the build-up and the nerves and the 'cannot wait to get out there and play'.
BB: If you were to win, you'd be rewarded with a semi-final at Lansdowne Road - possibly against Munster! That must be a huge incentive.
WG: Of course - although being a true Leinsterman, I'm naturally supporting Perpignan??!! One game at a time, blah blah, the old cliches...
BB: I know that you've been keeping an eye on Wasps' progress this season. Now we're entering the business end of it, how would you sum up our current state of health? What's your view of the Powergen Cup Final and the rest of the Premiership campaign?
WG: I think Waspies are going well and bubbling nicely towards a double - but Llanelli are a good side at full strength, so it will not be easy. I think you have some tough places to go in the league - Gloucester and Leicester. Those will be key games, which will determine where you end up, but noone knows how to handle knockout rugby like Waspies, regardless of where you finish in the league. It feels nice to be so confident from so afar - if I were in the Wasps camp, I wouldn't be quite so bullish!
BB: Finally. How many pints of Guinness do you drink every week?
WG: In the week - none. After a win - I lose count!$%&*****£$£"!"££
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