Dec 20,2024
Paul Boyle has made his list, but doesn't need to check it twice.
In 101 games for the province, the 27-year-old knows there’s just a short group of Connacht’s regular opponents who he’s yet to get a win against.
Saturday’s opponents Leinster are one of those. And while the Wexford man admits there is an added personal desire to beating this weekend’s opponents, it has nothing to do with him being a Leinster native.
"The thing that incentivises me about playing Leinster is that I'm yet to beat them," Boyle said, ahead of Saturday’s Interpro at Aviva Stadium.
"I was meant to be involved in the one during Covid [in 2021] but I was a close contact with all the stuff going on, so I didn't get to be involved.
"So any team that I play that I haven't beaten yet is always added motivation.
"There's a couple of South African teams away from home [I haven't beaten], but Leinster is the one that really sticks out in that department."
That victory Boyle missed out on in 2021 against Leinster at the RDS is the province’s only win in this fixture since April 2018, while they have lost on each of their last four away trips to Dublin by between 26 and 36 points.
Leinster are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions so far this season, with a 33-12 win against Connacht in Galway among those victories for the league leaders.
The province have earned a reputation for having a stingy defence so far this year, giving up an average of just 12 points per game under senior coach Jacques Nienaber.
"It's really impressive in your face, obviously, with the kind of South African influence," Boyle (above) said of the Leinster blitz.
"But, again, we've kind of focused on how our attack can exploit that and, obviously, if the team is coming flying at you, there should be space somewhere, but it's allowing yourself whether it's the depth or the space to take it.
"The whole focus to combat their defence is how we can exploit them with our attack. When we reviewed the last game, there was a lot of space at times that we were probably just a fraction off being able to take.
"So if we can just fix a few little things, we'll hope you'll be able to exploit that space this time."
A one-cap Ireland international in 2021, injury limited Boyle to just eight games last season in a stop-start campaign.
But having played all but one game for Pete Wilkins side this season, the Gorey man has already matched that total, scoring four tries along the way, and he believes he’s playing some of the best rugby of his career.
"I spoke to the lads at the start of the season. We were given the forum to get to know each other more.
"And when I spoke to the guys, I had mentioned that I do feel like I'm the best version that I've ever been, and I was looking forward to showing them all.
"So, luckily, I've got some opportunities. I'm really happy with how I'm going and look, there's no point in just staying still either.
"I've got to keep going and keep pushing on and seeing how good I can get."
Rather than making any physical improvements, he believes his good form this season has been down to a shift in mindset.
"I suppose at the start of the season, I just put my focus on myself.
"Rugby is such a physical game and everyone always talks about the growing physicality in it, but from a personal point of view it's like 95% mental.
"That's not to say I'm mentally switched off or any of the likes. I had a couple of injuries along the way.
"But I really focused on getting my head together and doing what I do best, that's stuff on the training field, but when it comes to games, it's getting on the ball, kind of really trying to make my carry weapon, particularly off those lineout strikes, I've really focused on those as a way of getting into the game.
"And I've kind of just stuck to what I feel I'm good at and things that I feel can impact a game and gone hard at them.
"So maybe previously, yes, you're always making yourself better in the things that you're maybe not so good at, but I've put a real focus on concentrating on things that I'm good at and letting them impact the game," he added.
