Admiration.

Felipe Contepomi had some good and bad days against Munster over the years playing for Leinster. But when the Argentine playmaker arrived in Ireland back in 2003 however, Leinster were very much second best, and this continued more often than not throughout his tenure with the eastern province.

Munster led the charge in Europe – reaching multiple semi-finals and finals, building a huge fanbase in the process. They reached the pinnacle in 2006 with their first Heineken Cup (smashing Leinster en route in the semi), before repeating that feat again in 2008.

But Contepomi didn’t hate Munster as a result of this, he admired them. Speaking to Luke Fitzgerald on his podcast ‘The Left Wing’, Contepomi says he admired Munster back then because of their “passion”, and says Leinster learned a lot from their fierce rivals.

“I didn’t hate Munster, to be honest back in those days Munster were the team to admire because of the passion they played with,” Contepomi said.

“The players loved to play for their jersey. Everyone says it looked like I hated them but I probably envied them and admired them. It was a great rivalry and when I wore the Leinster jersey, it was all that mattered and Munster were the rival. They weren’t an enemy. It’s not someone that I hate. We learned a lot from Munster.

“They were reaching finals and that’s what we wanted. Now Leinster is the team to admire and look at. You don’t have to hate a rival. They were so good that sometimes you envy them. It is a great rivalry.”