Is nothing sacred?
Ian Madigan admits Leinster’s 2014/15 season ended one, or two, games too soon.
Having fallen short of the lofty standards set by past, trophy-winning deeds, the province made a good fist of Europe while letting the Guinness PRO12 slip through their fingers.
While Munster, Ulster and Connacht’s players are all preparing for games this weekend, Madigan and his Leinster team-mates are keeping their fitness levels up before being released for four weeks’ summer holidays.
Ireland play the Barbarians on Thursday week [May 28] and the majority of Joe Schmidt’s side should be Leinster men. One of the only benefits from finishing fifth in the league is extra time with the Ireland coach.
Speaking at the launch of the official Canterbury range of training wear that will be worn by the Ireland team, Madigan reveals that the response from some Leinster fans, over the course of a below-par season, has been brutally honest.
‘It is tough,’ he admits. ‘When you are going to the shops to get groceries or whatnot and you’ve got people saying “Oh, that was a disappointing performance at the weekend”.
‘I think they’ve got the right to. They’re supporters. It could be the same guy who patted you on the back [before] and said “Well done. You had a great game at the weekend.” You’ve got to wear the good with the bad. If you are a season ticket holder, you are entitled to your opinion. That’s the joy of sport.
‘For me, personally, when things are going well with Leinster and Ireland, it’s important not to get carried away with yourself and not ride that wave too high. Then, when things are going badly, to not get too down on yourself. For me, it’s about not letting that pendulum swing too high or too low. That is something that has stood me well over the last few months.’
Leinster have, to date, sold 10,000 season tickets for 2015/16. How much of it does Madigan put it down to his ‘Holy Land’ acting abilities in the ticket promo?
‘Doing those acting things,’ says Madigan, ‘for us, is always going to be a bit funny. We’re rugby players, not actors. It certainly took a few shots. I think I had to remember about five words and I managed to muddle them up I don’t know how many times. Doing stuff like that, outside rugby, freshens things up. Having looked back at the video, there’s certainly not a career in acting waiting for me when I finish playing.’
With pre-World Cup camp only six weeks away, Madigan will be staying in good, physical shape. Mentally, he will attempt to switch off. He plans to do so by indulging in other sporting passions.
‘I love watching the GAA. I played with a few of the Dublin lads at Kilmacud Crokes and always love going in to Croke Park for a day out; even to watch the hurling. They are days I will certainly look forward to [this summer]… I’m not sure I’d be tipping them up but they do have a great chance, with the likes of Paul Flynn, Rory O’Carroll and quality guys like that.’
‘I will also follow the golf closely,’ Madigan adds, ‘and will hopefully get a few rounds in with my dad over the summer. We play up in Druids Glen. My handicap is 8 but I’m playing off 18 at the moment.’
