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19th May 2023
10:23pm BST
Jamison Gibson-Park scores a try for Taranaki, against Auckland, in 2012. (Photo by Simon Watts/Getty Images)[/caption]
"It's a pretty big island itself, like land-mass wise. But, in terms of population it is very small. Everyone knows each other and that was kind of the way I was brought up, you know - kind of a real laid back mindset, which I probably has shaped me to be the person I am today. "Like, everyone's always late and all that kind of stuff. Now, that's not me as a professional. I got better at that. But, that's the island way of life and that was how I was brought up. It shaped me a lot and sport was massive for me. I'd go to school every day then I'd be straight out on a pitch with a ball. We just had to be home before dark. "We'd be up to all that kind of stuff, you know? Surfing and hunting, fishing, diving. The old man would have been big into his diving. And so, me and my brothers would have been scuba diving, pretty early on."When Gibson-Park moved to Gisborne, playing for the boys high school there, he was picked up early as a decent prospect before getting picked up by National Provincial Championship side, Taranaki. Within another year he was playing for Auckland Blues in Super Rugby. He would move on to play a year with the Hurricanes, in Wellington, and turn out eight times for the Maori All Blacks. When it came to Test side selection, he was losing out to the likes of Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara and Brad Weber. Leinster were alerted to his potential availability and, back then, there was only three years needed to satisfy residency rules. By August 2019, Gibson-Park was eligible to play Test rugby for Ireland but Joe Schmidt opted not to jump him ahead of others in the World Cup queue. One wonders if that conservative decision is something Schmidt now regrets. [caption id="attachment_159858" align="aligncenter" width="647"]
Jamison Gibson-Park, Jonathan Sexton and Luke McGrath celebrate with the Champions Cup in 2018. (Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)[/caption]
"I wouldn't be massively vocal," he says. "At times, obviously, when it is needed I might pipe up. I wouldn't be too loud, I suppose, compared to guys like Craig Casey and Aaron Smith. Those guys are pretty massive out there. You hear them over ref mic, the whole time. That's not my style really. "There are many ways of communicating with people, even during breaks in play. In phase play, though, I wouldn't be that vocal."As for that ramped-up tempo, it is something La Rochelle know all about. Like last year's final, the French side will be doing all they can to slow Leinster down at the breakdown, and in general play. "I don't have to clean many rucks, thankfully," he remarks, "so, it'll be the other boys dealing with it. But, yeah, I think we all know that it's coming around the corner again. "We'll be doing our best to do as much prep on it but they are very tricky to deal with and very good at slowing sides down. Very good at the dark arts." [caption id="attachment_287917" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Jamison Gibson-Park passes the ball during a 2022 Test match between the All Blacks and Ireland at Forsyth Barr Stadium. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)[/caption]
"When you're young, you just get caught up in the moment. Stu [Lancaster] played us some clips of Kevin Sinfield, when he won big games. Kevin was saying the same thing, like, as he got on, he got more thrills out of just sitting back and watching everyone else enjoy the moment." "My eldest daughter, Isabella is old enough now to kind of understand what's going on," he adds. "She really enjoys being able to get out there on the pitch and enjoy it. Those are like moments to savour."[caption id="attachment_287761" align="aligncenter" width="2048"]
Jamison Gibson-Park was speaking on behalf of Heineken's 'Love Rivalry' campaign, ahead of the Heineken Champions Cup final at the Aviva Stadium. (Credit: INPHO)[/caption]
"For me, it hasn't changed massively," says Gibson-Park. "Ross has been doing it for a long time for Leinster. In terms of leading weeks and all that kind of stuff, he's brilliant. You're just saw it and seen it more now in big games that he's been involved in. He's just got more of a crack at it, and everyone has seen how good he is."Gibson-Park says Sexton, Leinster's injured captain and long-time talisman, has been 'pretty keen to give a bit of space' to the active squad members. "Obviously," he adds, "if he feels he needs to, he'll chip in." The scrumhalf perks up when he mentions that his folks will be paying him a visit in Ireland, later this year. This weekend, though, the JGP fan-club will be tuning in from New Zealand. "There's a tight-knit little crew - kind of my close friends and obviously my family - that would be in touch regularly," he tells us. "My old man and my nana watch every game. It doesn't matter what time it's on, they'll be up. "My nana is 70 this year. She's been my number one fan since day one, as you can imagine. Typical with the old nanas!" Last year's Champions Cup final was one that got away from Leinster at the death. It was a tough watch for Leinster fans, watching from all over the world, and inside Stade Velodrome. It will be 4:45am, Sunday morning, in New Zealand when Gibson-Park's family and friends are up with the early risers to see if he can cap off an impressive 12-month stretch with that Champions Cup cherry.
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