Teams are always looking for an edge in the pre-match build-up so Declan Kidney called in a special guest to talk to the Irish rugby team this week.
Next week Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary will be in the spotlight as his Gigginsown House Stud sends numerous runners to post at the Cheltenham Festival. But this week he found time in his busy schedule to drop into Carton House to have a quick chat with the Irish team ahead of the Scotland game.
Details of what the Ryanair supremo said to the lads hasn’t emerged but Eoin Reddan did reveal the impact O’Leary had on the lads to the Irish Independent.
“He is a fascinating character,” said Ireland scrum-half Eoin Reddan. “He was talking about the challenges he has faced in business and the need to stay positive; about making sure that when you get your chance you are ready to go and be prepared to have a go.
“I could relate to that. He has always been prepared to back himself and that is something I feel I can do as well. You have to get on with things, you can’t dwell on it.
“You look at yourself and ask, ‘could I have done something different?’ and as long as you can say, ‘I gave it my all’, you can stop beating yourself up. He was good craic, he was very funny.”
We bet he was. We wonder did he pass on any tips for the Festival? If he did, the lads aren’t telling us but according to Reddan, he did the trick.
“He is a smart man and very interesting,” said Reddan. “As well as the novelty of a talk from someone as famous and as entertaining as Michael, it is good to get input from outside your own sphere. It really gave fellas a lift.”
So, if we trounce Scotland on Saturday, you know who to thank.
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