GAVIN CUMMISKEYmeets the young fullback who tackled the men of Munster off the field and does so again in Saturday's Magners League showdown

THE GRAND Slam sparked a media hunt for the inside track on how it all came to pass. Similar, ironically enough, to the chase for reasons to explain the World Cup collapse in 2007. More information has been forthcoming these past 10 days.

For certain, the ghosts of Bordeaux have been banished by the Ireland rugby squad. But to win the championship several issues had to be addressed and debated before being deleted from the collective mindset.

Much of these frank discussions occurred near the midlands town of Enfield last December at a mid-season training camp. In a rugby waste ground, both geographically and psychologically, the Ireland camp were miles from their long-stated ambition.

Players were split up, with a young Leinster player in Ronan O’Gara’s group airing an issue, much discussed amongst the public, that Munster boys “don’t play for the green jersey as they do for the red,” to quote O’Gara.

Back in the general populace, Rob Kearney took responsibility for the comment and after other voices were heard it was shelved as an underlying problem.

“When I was saying it at the time I couldn’t believe I was opening my mouth,” said the recently turned 23-year-old yesterday at a sponsor’s function in UCD.

“But thankfully it’s something that stood really strong to us. It was very beneficial and whatever questions there were over that particular topic, certainly, I don’t think anybody can ever question that now.”

Once raised it could have gone either way? “It could have gone either way, yeah. I think that shows the honestly and character within the room that it didn’t. People realised, potentially, there is something out of place here so everyone worked really hard to rectify it.”

In another dose of irony, up to 16 members of an elite of Ireland rugby club, the Grand Slammers, become violent enemies at Thomond Park this Saturday as Leinster seek revenge for the 18-0 beating Munster inflicted upon them at the RDS last September. It is also, potentially, a dress rehearsal for the European Cup semi-final at Croke Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Things have changed irrevocably regarding the perception of Rob Kearney the rugby player these past 10 days. He is not alone.

Granted, this heaps further pressure on the Lions candidate and counts for little down in Limerick; in fact, it ensures added attention.

And yet, pausing to reflect on the greatest of international seasons will always be worthwhile. Kearney, more than most, needed the last week off after sustaining back spasms in the opening minute at the Millennium Stadium. On a normal evening he would have disappeared down the tunnel and on to the treatment table.

“Any other game I would have come off but looking around at the whole occasion I thought there was no way I can leave the field.”

Fully recovered, the injury failed to overshadow a season that has seen him command respect throughout the rugby world.

“From a fullback perspective, what I wanted to do mainly was just to be strong and solid at the back.

“If it was on to show a bit of flamboyancy I would have a cut but certainly, I didn’t want to go chasing it, I just wanted the 14 men in front of me to feel they had that bit of solidity behind them.”

Last Sunday showed us Girvan Dempsey abides, but it is Kearney that should be second-guessing O’Gara’s right boot in Limerick, the place where Leinster would most cherish a scalp.

The season’s defining encounter will come next week at The Stoop against Harlequins but motivation for a night under the Thomond lights nonetheless comes easily.

“I don’t think you will find any team in professional sport that likes being beaten by their rivals, so badly, in their own back yard.

“We were embarrassed that day and there is no two ways about it. I can speak on behalf of all the lads that there is still a lot of hurt from that day and certainly this weekend we shall be looking to rectify that.”

‘We were embarrassed that day . . . . I can speak on behalf of all the lads that there is still a lot of hurt from that day and certainly this weekend we shall be looking to rectify that – Rob Kearney