Ian Madigan has been answering questions about Johnny Sexton ever since he broke into the Leinster team in May 2009
2012-13 was Madigan’s best ever season in Leinster blue. He started 25 games and featured off the bench in seven more as the province claimed a league and Challenge Cup double. He scored 233 points, which included nine tries, and won his first two caps for Ireland.
Sexton packed his bags and headed for France, via the Lions tour to Australia, that summer and Madigan, on his first ever Irish start, kicked his team to victory against the United States. New coach Matt O’Connor drafted out-half Jimmy Gopperth but the experienced Kiwi was expected to cover for Madigan as he continued to grow into his role as Leinster starting 10.
Last season was extremely frustrating for the former Blackrock player. He shared the out-half and kicking duties with Gopperth. He started 14 of his 26 appearances but outings were spread between out-half, inside centre and fullback. In crucial games against Castres (twice), Toulon and Ulster, his minutes on the pitch were 10, 4, 14 and 30.
A try off the bench in the PRO12 semi-final against Ulster was not enough to earn a start in the final but he played 71 minutes after Brian O’Driscoll hobbled off in his final game. All the while there were Sexton rumours. An early return to the RDS was negated but, as early as August, it was confirmed the Ireland and Lions star was coming home in 2015.
Madigan has kept his head down, preferring to steer clear of interviews in the early part of the season as Sexton’s move was rubber-stamped. He has covered three positions again, in 2014-15, but O’Connor seems to prefer him at inside centre and has likened him to Toulon talisman Matt Giteau. O’Connor declares, ‘I’ve never criticised Ian’s performances as a footballer… He has been the heartbeat of the team.’
SportsJOE caught up with Madigan earlier this month to talk positional preferences, his future and about who he confides in as the rest of the nation speculates on his thoughts.
He says, ‘First and foremost, I’m a rugby player and that means I can play in a few different positions in the backline. It’s no secret that out-half is my preferred position but I really enjoy playing in the centre… Joe Schmidt played me in the centre (against Australia) in the autumn and he played me at fullback when he was at Leinster so I wouldn’t say he sees me exclusively as an out-half.’
Madigan adds, ‘There are a few people that I confide in, and really respect their opinion. On the player front, someone like Eoin Reddan has been a real mentor for me. He’s a really smart guy and someone who has given me some great feedback, criticism and work-ons, since he joined us five years ago. I’m sure when he finishes playing in three or four years time that he will make a great coach.’
‘Outside of the playing group,’ he continues, ‘Richie Murphy (Leinster skills coach) is someone I would have worked with since I was 16. He’s someone that knows me inside-out. I’ve full confidence in him. He is similar to Eoin in that he has given me some great advice,’
Away from the Leinster set-up, Madigan pays tribute to a man O’Driscoll credits for transforming his game in 2008-09. ‘I do a lot of work with the sports psychologist Enda McNulty,’ he says. ‘That is similar to Richie in that I’ve worked with him since I was 16 or 17. I have a bank of experience there and feel I can speak my mind to him in full confidence. He can give me tools that I can use in games to help me deal with the pressure.’
Madigan adds, ‘Obviously I’ve got my family as well, which is nice.’
The Dubliner is contracted with Leinster and the IRFU until the end of 2015-16 but negotiations on a new deal will start in earnest following next year’s Rugby World Cup. Madigan says he would be naive to ever rule out a switch to another club, even within these shores. For now, he is focused on delivering, wherever needed, for club and country.
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