The day that changed the Leinster v Munster rivalry forever | 2009 Heineken Cup

[@dunlaoghaire]

Love Cheika. Would love to have him back.... A Leinster legend!

[@kevinbarry1888]

Chieks will always be a legend in Leinster.

[@readesiun988]

Thanks Michael for all you did for Irish rugby

[@SC-gm4fw]

I will always remember that match, being one of the few Leinster fans on Hill16 surrounded by a sea of Red and taking every opportunity to remind them that their time as Champions was over after watching years of Munster success in Europe. What a great interview 🙏🏻🟦🇮🇪

[@dunlaoghaire]

The hill was teaming with Leinster fans...

[@SC-gm4fw]

@@dunlaoghaire not in the section I was in, you gotta remember it holds about 10-15k

[@jonnywalker5361]

What a legend. Always welcome in all the counties of Leinster.

[@johnpower-m5o]

What a man, what memories, what a commentary about my home country Ireland - and my province Leinster.

[@roryoneill9444]

I remember that day...... it was a brilliant day.

[@davidbegan]

Well articulated Michael. I could not get tickets that day. However, I went up to Dublin to be in the city for the game. I remember distinctly on the LUAS to Dublin, every stop, Leinster fans getting on with the colours. It was reflective of the supporters that Leinster was in a special place and change was coming. It was a magical day and the beginning of a new era!!

[@Natedawg38]

Cheika is a total unsung hero for Irish rugby. His appearance on the scene coincides with the massive improvement of our game.

[@swavgav31]

I was there! 83,000 world club record What an occasion

[@cilldublin07]

had the pleasure/misfortune to be at the 1st munster game that leinster lost to munster in lansdowne and ended up in the players reception at the rds after which was mute then ended up in croke park for the 2nd game which was unreal and just a great atmosphere. theres rivalry between the 2 but teams/fans but after the games both sets of fans just get on and enjoy the pints no guff no fighting just fun and laughing

[@michaelmartin2075]

Cheika made Leinster. He was also indirectly responsible for the rise of Irish rugby. Leinster was all flash and no dog before he arrived. One of the things he did first was improve the coaching in the AIL clubs and schools. This had a significant knock on effect that we're reaping the benefits from, today.

[@mauricegarvey4631]

Michael Cheika dramatically undersells his importance to Leinster. His edge won them their first European Cup. Only pedant alerts are 06 not 05, and Croke Park in 2009 had 5-3 Munster fans in majority, not the 50/50 Cheiks cites here, but shows you the positive outsider influence sometimes needed to slay thy enemy!

[@RickardOConnell]

So well articulated

[@daithipol]

It was the first game where I truly believed my team had no chance. Articles in the papers even non sport news reporters were slagging off Leinster for even showing up.... beautiful day, gave them a hiding and even while shipping a yellow card.

[@TamiDaire]

Nah I thought Leinster would win, its not like they didnt have a really good team.

[@michaelodonnell824]

Unfortunately, the Irish Media is still Leinster Hating and pro the Losers from Munster....

[@LeMerch]

Such massive respect to that man for what he did at Leinster. He helped transform the club into what it is now. A European giant.

[@paulodoherty1712]

Great leader! Loved in Ireland!

[@fawltyoldboybasil.2178]

Michael Cheika - Leinster couldn't have had a better choice of Head Coach to finally make the breakthrough. In general, Irish Rugby has been blessed to have had men like Cheika, Schmidt, Lam, Lancaster, Farrell, Gibbs, Rowntree, McBride, Gatland, Catt, etc bring their nous and experience here. MC will always be held in high regard by Leinster fans.

[@pscotXRPking]

A big thank you to Cheika . He turned the tude and helped create the power house that is Leinster rugby

[@kookvision9295]

Correction the reason the crowd was even was Leinster were more defensive with their tickets allocation.

[@howzitson]

Why did Cheika leave in the end? Wasn't direct to Australia was it?

[@danielokeeffe6358]

Let us mourn in peace ffs.

[@oceanfroggie]

It was NOT a civil war event that occurred in Croke park. It was a war of independence massacre by English forces as a reprisal against Old IRA attacks on the intelligence apparatus at Dublin Castle. Innocents in the stands and on the pitch were murdered and gunned down in a war crime of vengeance.

[@daithipol]

Calm down, irish people know the significance. He's Australian without irish ancestry

[@MrRugbylane]

Well.... while the War of Independence was being fought it was, technically a "Civil War" (as it was all inside the UK). When Ireland won its independence it became a "war of independence". Likewise the American Civil War; if the Confederates had won, it would now be called the "Confederate War of Independence". So Chieks was actually technically correct.

[@oceanfroggie]

@@MrRugbylane Yes that's actually an Interesting perspective alright. Irish folk would tend to regard the civil war as what happened immediately after independence when the pro and anti-treaty sides of the old IRA (original 1918 sinn fein) fractured into two sides and tragic civil conflict ensued for a time until sense prevailed.

[@MrRugbylane]

@@oceanfroggie Yes they do! If the anti-treaty forces had won it would probably be called something like "The 2nd Revolution" or whatnot. The winners get to define the name of the conflict 🙂

[@Dreyno]

⁠@@MrRugbylaneI disagree. Ireland and the Irish people were not historically part of the same country as Britain and had repeatedly rebelled against British rule. Ireland had been only been made a constituent part of the U.K. a little over a century earlier in response to another rebellion and in that time were subjected to different laws and treatment than the people in Great Britain. In every respect it was a war of independence apart from its supposed status as part of the U.K. The confederacy were fighting to secede from a country it was a part of establishing of its own volition.