Here we go now.
Sean O’Brien will park the talking for a few weeks yet and launch into another area where he also takes few prisoners – rugby.
The Ireland star made plenty of headlines over the last fortnight with his honest take on his experiences on the 2017 Lions Tour to New Zealand. The fall-out from that critique is still occurring – Gordon D’Arcy the latest to come out in support of his views – but O’Brien will be delighted to get a ball back in clutches again.
Edinburgh are in the Carlow native’s sights and they will not welcome the sight of Leinster’s starting XV after a rough start to the Guinness PRO14. Leo Cullen has named 15 internationals and, O’Brien included, four Lions.
LEINSTER XV
Joey Carbery; Fergus McFadden, Rory O’Loughlin, Noel Reid, Dave Kearney; Johnny Sexton (C), Luke McGrath.
Jack McGrath, Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong; Devin Toner, Scott Fardy; Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Seán O’Brien.
O’Brien, as you will note, will start in the No.8 jersey for Leinster. It is a position in which he made an early name for himself as a destructive ball-carrier and broken field threat.
He has not played too frequently in the role in recent years but a wealth of back row riches and Jamie Heaslip’s ongoing back issues means e may be set for an extended run in the role.
Jack Conan is the other live candidate at the back of the pack but a run of form for O’Brien at 8 could make for an interesting Irish back row this November. Heaslip is unlikely to return in time for the three Test spin – a second visit to surgery has been mooted – so there is a spot up for grabs.
Conan started No.8 in all three summer Tests [in the USA and Japan] while CJ Stander wore the jersey for the first time at international level, in March, when Heaslip was ruled out of the win over England.
The versatility of O’Brien and Stander means either man could start at blindside or 8 against South Africa. With Dan Leavy out, that could see Jordi Murphy, Tommy O’Donnell and Josh van der Flier all vying for an openside role. Let’s not, of course, rule out Peter O’Mahony too.
In Heaslip, Ireland have lost a good man but there are plenty of candidates stepping up.
OUR IRELAND BACK ROW: Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, CJ Stander (Jack Conan as back-up)
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