Elsom's eyes on the prize
by JP Lonergan, 12 October 2008
Rocky Elsom is a big fan of The Heineken Cup and, even though he is still settling in with his new side, he is determined to help Leinster go all the way in European competition.
The versatile Australian forward scored the first of four Leinster tries as Michael Cheika’s side won 27-16 in their HEC opener in Edinburgh on Sunday. A new man to the competition, he admits it is something he has admired from afar and also knows it is a tournament he and South African prop CJ van der Linde were signed to help Leinster win.
“I know Europe is something they would really like to win,” Elsom said of his new club in The Irish Times.
“I think it’s a great competition and something that is envied in Australia. If the Super 14 teams could somehow get in there, they would jump at it.
“But as far as extra pressure is concerned, I think they didn’t sign me and CJ and me without wanting something in return, but I think we want the same thing.”
Meanwhile, Elsom feels that he the game in Europe is different to the one he has been playing Down Under, but not in a bad way and he is enjoying the process of adapting to his new challenge in Ireland.
“[It is] definitely very different,” he added on the European game.
“The big thing you notice is the defence has the upper hand here, whereas it’s more 50-50 in the southern hemisphere. There’s a lot more running in The Tri-Nations and while the impacts are sometimes larger, they’re over quicker.
“It’s more of a constant pressure over here and it’s a grind in a lot of cases.
“It’s been a bit of a challenge. It’s totally new, with new personalities who run things their own way, so that takes a little bit of time.”
