Leaning into the biting cold of a winter’s evening the Leinster players trudged a new route from pitch to the indoor facilities in UCD following training because of the ongoing building works.
It’s a minor inconvenience, certainly when weighed against the speed with which the returning players have to divest themselves of Irish systems and calls and quickly become reacquainted with Leinster ones ahead of Sunday’s opening Champions Cup match against the Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate (5.30).
Spare a thought for Jordie Barrett who spent Tuesday meeting some of his new team-mates during a light pitch session. He’s already made quite the impression. Everyone knows him as an outstanding athlete, capable of playing right across the backline, as he has done for the All Blacks. By acclamation he’s a good bloke too.
Barrett is in contention for a place in the matchday 23 for Bristol. Assistant coach Robin McBryde confirmed: “He’s being monitored with regards to how he’s got to get through the week, but he took part in training today. It’s a case of seeing how he reacts and taking it step by step.
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“He’s big, he should be playing secondrow. He is more than comfortable with the players. They would have played against him many times. He’s got good connections with fellow Kiwis here, with Brian Colclough the [Leinster] analyst; they both went to the Irish game on the weekend. I think he has settled in really well so far.”
There was positive news regarding a quintet of Leinster players. Ryan Baird has come through the graduated return to play protocols after picking up a head knock while on Ireland duty. Jordan Larmour, Jimmy O’Brien and Jack Conan who started in Leinster’s URC victory against Ulster in Belfast last weekend, and Lee Barron, a second-half replacement, are all in the selection hopper.
Prop Paddy McCarthy and centre cum wing Tommy O’Brien have returned to full training. Will Connors picked up a hamstring injury against Ulster and is unavailable while Jamie Osborne (groin) and Tadhg Furlong (hamstring) are also out of the trip to Bristol. Publicly, there are no return timelines for the trio.
While the turnaround from international to provincial commitments is tight, especially given the number of Leinster players affected, McBryde is not overly concerned.
“They’re international-quality players. They have the ability to click back into it. There’s a lot of experience in the coaching team.
“We can’t overload them [the players]. Maybe it’s having a consideration for the week. You look at these first two games, there’s a short turnaround between them – Leinster play Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday week – so it’s managing all that.
“It’s easier sometimes when you know you don’t have the time, so you have to prioritise. In many respects it helps you focus now.”
Gus McCarthy in action for Ireland against Fiji. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
He accepted that while player management and rotation would be crucial in ensuring a properly calibrated approach to both matches, there isn’t a player in the building who doesn’t want to play next Sunday.
“The one thing I will say is that it’s a Champions Cup game and that’s a big motivator, a big carrot because of what’s gone on. It’s not just a URC game, not being disrespectful to those fixtures, but it’s the Champions Cup and we’re going over to play a team who are flying high in the Premiership, scoring tries for fun.
“As a player you want to be involved in those games, it’s a motivating factor. It’s not a case of going away to play so and so, it’s a big opening game of the Champions Cup.”
As a former hooker and now forwards coach, McBryde kept a paternal eye on Gus McCarthy’s impact as the 21-year-old won his first two caps with Ireland and grabbed a try in each of those Tests. So, what’s he like as a player and person? McBryde replied: “In a short space of time, he’s just one of those players who you’re impressed by his demeanour.
“There’s an inner confidence there. Nothing’s too big for him, he’s not overawed in any way, shape or form. He just focuses on the task at hand really. It’s just been a gradual development but in a short space of time. It’s great to see players develop; not just him either.
“Jack Boyle trained with the [Irish] squad, and it was a great experience for him. Thomas Clarkson as well, so you’ve got a young frontrow there coming through together which is brilliant. Gus is fulfilling his potential and he’s got a good way to go.
McBryde delves a little deeper when asked to single out what he sees as McCarthy’s strengths. “Probably his attitude is the outstanding quality currently, in that he’s not closed off to any ideas. He’s quite open to suggestions, to working on all aspects of his game in order to get better.
“I don’t think he has stopped being curious with how good he could be at scrummaging, lineout throwing, the work away from the lineout, as the receiver, [and also] defensively around the field with Jacques [Nienaber] with regards to the ability to tackle, maybe poach and his ability out wide from an attacking point of view.
“He’s still learning the game in many regards so just his attitude to get on with it and not worry too much about it. He doesn’t get bogged down. It’s gone, next job; that level of maturity for a young man.”
The Leinster team to play Bristol will be announced on Friday lunchtime.
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