LEINSTER COACH Stuart Lancaster admits that he hopes he will be back at the province one day ahead of his final game this weekend.
Leinster takes on current Champions Cup holders La Rochelle on Saturday, and when the final whistle blows, it will mark the end of Lancaster's seven-year spell in Dublin.
Earlier this year, the former England head coach confirmed that he would be joining Racing 92 next season after signing a four-year deal with the Top14 side.
Even if Leinster loses their second consecutive final in Dublin this weekend, Lancaster does not believe a potential defeat will define his legacy at Leinster.
"It won't define me personally. I think ultimately what defines you is your integrity, values, ability to build relationships, and develop people," Lancaster said.
"That's what I've tried to do while I've been here. I've been around rugby long enough to know that there are so many variables that can influence the outcome of any game, which you're not in control of as a coach. You can have a sending off in the first minute, the bounce of a ball can go here, a refereeing decision can go there. So, it's about not holding on too tight to the outcome and making sure I enjoy my last week here."
🗣"It's part of it but you don't want to become obsessed with it"
Stuart Lancaster discusses how Leinster will harness last year's defeat in an effort to win the Champions Cup final this weekend
🎙@ashoreilly @VodafoneIreland #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/ajW205JUcd— Off The Ball (@offtheball) May 15, 2023
The Englishman also revealed that he would love to come back to Leinster one day and that the province has made a huge impression on the 53-year-old during his seven-year stint.
"The last thing I want to do is be consumed by the result. I want to enjoy the occasion, enjoy the week, enjoy what happens at the end, but then look back on it as a brilliant period in my career, and hopefully not the last time I'm back. And I genuinely mean that. I would like to come back."
"It definitely feels like a big step to leave for me personally. Obviously, in the background (with Racing), you're trying to organize a coaching team, recruit players, and everything else. There have been times I've sat on Zoom calls thinking, 'I have absolutely no idea what that guy's saying.'"
Leinster's game against La Rochelle will begin at 4.45 pm on Saturday and can be seen live on RTE and BT Sport.
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