Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Leave no stone unturned: Conor Oliver dismisses home province link as Connacht wait for Leinster

Conor Oliver is an ex-Munster man from Skerries playing against his own province on a special European night.

Only the Connacht back row doesn't see it quite that way as he prefers the narrative of pushing for historic Champions Cup glory and furthering his Ireland prospects against some of the best in the business.

"Nah, not really, I parked all that kind of Leinster stuff a good few years ago now," Oliver said.

"Obviously when I first went from there to Munster there was a kind of a chip on my shoulder with that type of stuff.

"But I have been gone so long now that it doesn’t even come into my head.

“It is obviously great for my family more so on that side of things but, for me, this is just another massive game for Connacht.

"It is another game against one of the best teams in the competition and that’s all I’m really focused on.”

It is also another contest against one of the best back row units in the business, with Oliver and company due to come up against Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan for Leinster in Galway tomorrow.

"The quality of player they have and the depth and how they can rotate their bench, it’s no secret that they have one of the strongest squads," the 26-year-old said.

"I’m excited for the challenge. I always like going up against international back rows from Ireland.

“It’s a great marker to set for myself, where I'm at if I have my own international ambitions as well.

"Personally, it’s a massive game for me as well on that side of things. I can’t wait. I’m buzzing.”

Oliver understands that effort that the underdogs at home will need to produce to be in a strong position going to the Aviva Stadium next week for the second leg.

"I look at this as the hardest game of the season, the most important game of the season as well. Leave no stone unturned," he declared.

"We know Leinster, we've played them enough over the last two years to know how they play, we're pretty confident on our detail and analysis on them.

"As they always are, they'll be confrontational, and their skillset...but we're ready for a physical game - the last game was.

"We played for 50 minutes, we fell off but we showed we can stop them, and have plans that can stop them."

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.