Leinster’s Andrew Goodman embracing the pressure to unlock the Toulouse defence in Champions Cup final

By the time we reach the business end of the season, the opposition have analysed teams like Leinster in micro detail, which means it’s up to Goodman to throw different pictures, or at least variations of the same picture, at them.

Goodman came up trumps by designing a couple of intricate moves in last season’s Champions Cup final, and while Leinster’s early blitz wasn’t enough to get them over the line, confidence is high that they can go one better against Toulouse in London on Saturday week.

If they are to do so, Goodman’s influence will be key, as Leinster’s attack coach looks to unlock Toulouse’s defence.

“Oh, it’s the best part of the game,” Goodman smiled. “It’s about getting the balance right between how much time you put into it compared to what is going to make the difference around the basis of the game.

“It’s always exciting, there is a group of players and coaches and analysts who do an amazing job of cutting up the footage for us, giving us pictures. Then you think of the next chain, of the forwards and backs’ relationships.

“We have got a lineout leadership group, we have got a group of ‘10s’ that love designing plays as well. It’s not just one person going in there, there are a lot of conversations that go on in the background. It’s good fun and it makes all the hours of going through footage worthwhile when you pull something out in a big moment.”

Andrew Goodman previews Leinster's derby clash against Ulster

With such responsibility comes added pressure, but Goodman, who will leave Leinster to join the Ireland backroom team this summer, is relishing everything that comes with the job.

“What’s the main thing you spend your time on, you’ve got to get your balance right as well,” the Kiwi explained.

“You want to get those first-phase, second-phase tries but we’ve got to make sure the rest of our game, in terms of our attack and defence and all-round package, can finish off a final. We have obviously had some good patches in games, it’s probably just the consistency of performance we are striving for, which we know is a massive part of coming out on top of games at the end of the season.

“There were some nice patches at the weekend [against Ospreys] but again, there are some areas where set-piece strikes and our execution and decision-making, we didn’t quite nail our roles.

“We have talked around how we can level up in certain areas and how we can be more consistent over an 80-minute period.

“Look, it comes down to collision work like the breakdown and the carry. Obviously, when you can get speed of ball and front-foot ball, we know when teams play Leinster, they put a lot of pressure on our breakdown.”

While Leinster are preparing to face Ulster in Belfast on Saturday evening, plenty of time is being put into doing their homework on Toulouse.

“S**t, I watched them again [in Sunday’s 49-18 win over then Top 14 leaders Stade Francais] and they didn’t cough up much points,” Goodman added. “But what I will say about them is they are going to pressure the breakdown a lot. They have got [Jack] Willis, [Emmanuel] Meafou and those boys who are different kinds of jackal or barge threats.

“I think it’s great we got Toulouse in the final. If we had a dream final, if someone had asked me at the start of the year, I’d have loved to play Toulouse in the final because I enjoy watching them play, I think they play a great brand of rugby.

“I think we play a great brand of rugby. It’s exciting to prepare for and I’m sure people are excited to see how it unfolds.”