O’Driscoll: We don’t want 2009 to be a ‘flash in the pan’

Leinster and Ireland talisman Brian O’Driscoll has spoken of his desire to win another Heineken Cup to add to the province’s success in the competition two years ago.

Despite being European heavyweights for a number of years, Leinster have won rugby’s most prestigious club competition on only one occasion, when they defeated Leicester Tigers in Murrayfield in 2009.

The Blues have been arguably the form team in the competition so far and although they have to overcome a significant hurdle in French giants Toulouse in the Aviva Stadium this weekend, they remain well on course for a second Heineken Cup triumph.

O’Driscoll, who declined an invitation to the royal wedding this weekend on account of Leinster’s clash with the French side, is hungrier than ever for more silverware, citing the desire to avoid being remembered as a ‘flash in the pan’ as one of the main motivations to go all the way this year.

In an interview with The Guardian, O’Driscoll said: "As you get older the defeats become more painful. They definitely hurt more.

“Anytime you get to a semi-final you probably think, in your gut, 'This is our year.' I thought that four times previously and I was wrong on three occasions. The ones that are really hard to take happen when there's so much at stake. Essentially you don't know how many more chances you're going to get and that's why it hurts so much."

Asked to compare the mood in the Blues camp now compared to the same stage two years ago, O’Driscoll added: "It's actually a very different mentality now. Winning it makes you hungrier for another.

“No matter how hungry you were before, and how badly you thought you needed to win it, your psyche has changed. By winning it a second time you copper-fasten the fact you're a quality side."

"When you win one, after all those years of trying to win the holy grail of European rugby, you think, 'Thank God we've done it at least once.' But that feeling passes very quickly. You don't want to be a flash in the pan. It would be stupid to say there isn't more pressure now – but we've got a great work ethic and good composure."

Only days before the game, O’Driscoll didn’t want to go into too much detail about Leinster's opponents on Saturday, but let slip that he and his teammates will be keen for revenge after the reigning Heineken Cup champions knocked them out of the competition at the semi-final stage last year.

"Having lost three of them before I'm avoiding saying anything about gut instinct, said O’Driscoll.

“Let's just say it's an opportunity for a huge performance – and a chance to get some revenge over Toulouse and to make another European final. That's more than enough to keep the mind focused this week."