Horgan out to catch up

The season has rushed by in such a blur that a conversation with Shane Horgan never even gets around to that try against England.

No mention of the wide support line he took off Brian O'Driscoll or his good sense to hug the right wing, and trust Peter Stringer to float possession into his arms. Not even a quip about his pirouette into the corner. The enduring image of Lewis Moody gripping the unorthodox winger's ankles will have to suffice.

Since that remarkable St Patrick's weekend the season has accelerated. The nation salivated over the cataclysmic European Cup semi-final meeting, which ended as a damp squib for Leinster fans. Horgan is still hurting but motivation has been born out of the whipping Munster inflicted. He admits Leinster require at least another season to attain the consistency of their neighbours.

"There is absolutely no doubt about it. If not more. At the start of this season we wouldn't have expected to get to the semi-final and be in the shake up for the Celtic League on the last weekend of the season.

"Like all sportsmen when you progress at the rate we did, because of the coaches we have, you get very greedy. You want more and more. We are a couple of seasons behind (Munster). We're playing catch up."

Did he watch the final?

"Unfortunately I missed it. I was in London but I'm sure there is plenty of time to watch it. It is tricky but there are friends of mine on that team . . . so for them you are absolutely delighted but it is a natural thing with sportsmen you feel there is definitely jealousy there."

There is no time to get hung up as Ireland prepare to return, 12 months on, to the scene of Horgan's Lions experience. Although he spent a ridiculous amount of time in New Zealand warming the bench, as part of the zany Clive Woodward/Alistair Campbell show, he adamantly refuses to cast aspersions.

"As a tour I really enjoyed my time down there. I was just disappointed not to play more rugby, even if I had played a bit more for the midweek team. You are still playing for the Lions and that is a big deal to me.

"But from the tour, the experience, the people I met, I had a wonderful time. I don't think a lot of that has come out in the media; that a lot of lads on the tour had a fantastic time. Really enjoyed it and were honoured to be part of the Lions set up."

With the three-nil Test result still fresh in the Kiwi psyche, Ireland will be seen as lambs to the slaughter. A perception Horgan does not contest.

"It's not something we have discussed but I'd imagine that would be the case because we have never beaten them, so, to a large degree, that's warranted. If you start beating teams they will give you respect. Until we do that, until we perform against them, we won't have that respect. That's understandable."

And yet, he can't wait. The return of two forces of nature, O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell, who were absent from the heavy November defeat at Lansdowne Road means respect can conceivably be attained the only way All Blacks know how. Forcibly. Getting mentally in tune is the easy part.

"It's not at all difficult to motivate yourself to go down to New Zealand or Australia because if you are not motivated down there you will be absolutely destroyed. Anyone who is not motivated to play the All Blacks in two Tests and the Wallabies shouldn't be playing the game. There is a factor with fatigue because of the length of the season but no problem with motivation."