Talking Rugby Union caught up with former Ireland and Leinster Hooker Bernard Jackman
1. How do you think Leinster are doing this season Bernard?
I think that Leinster are the form team in Europe at the moment. Some of the Rugby that they played in the Group stages of the Heineken Cup was outstanding and their performance on Saturday at the Aviva against a strong Leicester team really showed that they the ability to get down and out battle if required. The quarter final stage is always the hardest for Leinster or Munster to play to their potential as they contribute so many players to the Irish team and it falls just after the 6 nations.
2. What are your thoughts on Sean Cronin joining Leinster next season and their current Hooker Richardt Strauss?
I rate Cronin very highly and he is a very exciting runner with the ball however Richardt Strauss has been very consistant for Leinster this season and was Man of the Match against Leicester at the weekend. Strauss will be Irish qualified under the 3 year residency rule in October and to have 2 players of that quality in the squad is a luxury for any team. Strauss is very good in the set piece and has played at Openside for the Cheetahs in the Super 14 so he is like an extra back row around the park. I suppose it's a gamble on Cronins part coming to Leinster but they both will probably end up sharing game time in much the same way that Issac Boss and Eoin Reddan are currently.
3. You played for Sale Sharks, did you enjoy playing rugby over in England?
I really enjoyed my time at Sale. It had a real family atmosphere at the time. I think its great to see Pete Anglesea who I played with Coaching there now and Steve Diamond who coached me in my second year is now running the operation which I think is hugely positive.
4. How was the feeling when you got your first Ireland cap?
It was an incredibly emotional day for me as it was a long time coming in terms of the fact that I had first been involved in Ireland squads for the guts of 7 years before I won my first cap. Also for one of those years I had lost my Contract and had to go back to the "real world where I worked as a Medical Sales Representative so there was times I doubted if I had a future in Rugby never mind playing for Ireland.
5. You went on tour with the Ireland squad to South Africa in 1998, what was your feelings like when you went with them and in Keith Wood, he was a hooker who had beat the Boks previously with the Lions in 1997, did you learn much from him?
That's was one of the last old fashioned tours and we spent over a month travelling around the Provincial towns playing tough opposition who were highly motivated to beat a National side. Woody had a great reputation there from the previous year and was probably the only Irish player that their team or fans respected. He was targeted on and off the ball in every game but he was one of the bravest most passionate players that I ever played with. He couldnt understand or tolerate low standards of preparation or play and he more than any player pulled the standards of provincial and international rugby higher in Ireland in the early part of the last decade.
6. What has been your career highlight?
Definitely winning the Heineken Cup with my home province Leinster in 2009. We had been perennial underachievers and we final got over the hurdle that year.
7. Who was your rugby idol growing up?
Simon Geogehgan the former Irish winger. He played in poor Irish teams but always played with huge passion and skill.
8. What was the best stadium you have played in?
It has to be Croke Park. I grew up playing Gaelic Football and would have dreamed of playing that Sport there. To have been one of only 40 or so Irish Rugby players who ever got to play Rugby there is special.
9. Who was the toughest player you have played with/against?
Brian O Driscoll is the toughest player that I played with. His threshold for pain is scary. The hardest scrimmaging hooker that I ever played against was Sebastian Bruno, every engagement at scrum time had me seeing stars.
10. You have become a coach yourself now, out of all the coaches you have had whilst playing which coach had the best effect on yourself?
I think it has to be Brent Pope who coached me at Clontarf when I came out of school. He thought me about how important Passion and Desire were if you wanted to do well in Rugby.
11. If you had to give advice to youngsters trying to make to become professional rugby players what would you tell them?
Chase your dream with everything that you have but don't neglect your education because you will need to work at some stage down the road.
12. What are you up to now Bernard?
I am now head coach at Clontarf Rugby club in Dublin and thankfully we won our Division recently. I am doing a lot of media work mainly with Newspapers and the Radio which I enjoy and I have been asked to do a lot of guest speaking all over Ireland which is great.
Other Questions
Favourite holiday destination?
Cape Town
Favourite food?
Fillet Steak
Favourite movies?
Enjoyed The Fighter recently
Favourite band/artist?
Snow Patrol
Hero (who isn't in rugby)?
Tom Crean a famous Irish Antarctic Explorer
Favourite sport/team (which isn't in rugby)?
Man Utd
What do you do in your spare time when not playing rugby?
I am doing a Masters in Management at University College Dublin
What do you think of talkingrugbyunion.co.uk?
I only came across it recently but I really like it and hope to be able to contribute to it over the coming months.
