THE MESSAGE FROM Leo Cullen couldn’t have been clearer following Leinster’s defeat to Ulster.
After falling to a rare home loss last Saturday, the Leinster head coach issued a word of warning to some of those players who had struggled to rise to the occasion at the RDS – “When a group doesn’t deliver, then in many ways, sometimes that’s their chance gone.”
There will be a few players in his matchday squad who felt they fell into that bracket.
Some of those might not be seen in Leinster blue for some time, given the high stakes games that lie ahead. Next up it’s Connacht at home on Friday, followed by back-to-back Champions Cup games before the St Stephen’s Day trip to Munster.
This season, the Leinster coaching team has been quick to point out that chances to impress will be at a premium, with the structure of the URC not really allowing the same level of squad rotation which has served the province so well over the years.
Those words of warning came to mind watching Harry Byrne against Ulster. In his 16 minutes on the pitch, the talented young out-half struggled to fully settle into the rhythm of the game and was at times guilty of over-complicating things as he made a couple of costly errors in possession.
According to Leinster backs coach Felipe Contepomi, it’s all part of the learning process for a player who finds himself at an important stage of his career as he looks to take the next step in his development. So far this season, the 22-year-old has played just 38 minutes for Leinster and 30 minutes for Ireland.
“Definitely the first thing is that it’s good to see him training and injury-free for at least a month or more than five weeks,” Contepomi said, referencing Byrne’s injury struggles over the past year.
So that’s the first positive thing to see, and then maybe in the games you could see he’s forcing (things)… he’s very talented but you need to fit that talent into teamwork and into a team-like flow, especially if you’re a 10. You need to make it flow rather than flow yourself.
“It’s something he’s learning and he will learn, but the talent is there and the potential is there, and it’s great to have him and hopefully he will have more minutes and keep developing.
“He’s young, and sometimes we expect (a lot), and sometimes it doesn’t work that easily for a young out-half. You need experiences. It’s not about age, but it’s about passing through similar situations over and over, and sometimes making errors and learning from them, that’s what gives you experience.
“So he’s in that part of his career, but you are always judged to the top level so that’s the challenge he’s facing, but I think he’ll get it right. And we’ll try to help him and prepare him to succeed as much as we can.”
Leinster have welcomed back the bulk of their Ireland internationals to training this week as they look to quickly get back to winning ways, the province hosting an in-form Connacht at the RDS on Friday night. On their last visit to the Dublin 4 venue, Andy Friend’s side pulled off a brilliant, shock 35-24 win.
“When we lose, we know we need to go deep into the review and so on because there’s no point in losing and not getting a learning out of it,” Contepomi continued. “It was what it had to be and now we have changed the page.
They will be more than confident of coming and getting a result at the RDS. We know how good they have been, not only the game against Ulster, but the game last weekend against Ospreys. They are on a good run. You can see them playing a very good brand of rugby, they are well coached, good players, highly motivated.
“We are highly motivated and it was great to have interpros back with fans and I think we owe our own fans a bit because we weren’t good enough last Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Contepomi also confirmed that James Ryan has not suffered any complications in his return from a head injury, with the lock set to see an independent concussion consultant.
Ryan suffered a head injury during Ireland’s defeat of Argentina on 21 November, and also missed games earlier this year due to concussion issues.
The 25-year-old has passed his return to play protocols but will now see an independent concussion consultant in line with World Rugby’s guidelines around head injuries.
“We’re just following all the protocols,” Contepomi said.
“He passed the return to play but then there is a World Rugby protocol to see a specialist, and he’s following that. But it’s all quite positive in that he’s passing all the tests he’s going through at the moment.”
Was the same when he came off the bench for Ireland. Threw a bad pass into touch and another one on the ground. Just didn’t look comfortable, probably a lack of game time as mentioned in the article. Was excellent at U20s and obviously has huge potential but to think he’s the 3rd best out half in Ireland right now is a huge insult to billy burns, carty, and Ben Healy who are all much better right now. Would have liked to see Healy rewarded with a call up to autumn squad as a young developing player but it wasn’t to be.
@guineon: waste of time! Why are we indulging this guy? Ross is a far superior player?
@guineon: he was brought into the irish squad because of his promise as a young player. Farrell knows what burns can do and had seen carty up close too during the world cup. Ben healy has just started to get game time and his club picks carbury ahead of him. So its not really an insult to anyone that a coach whos put time and effort into a very young player wants give him a chance.
If healy gets past carbury at club level he makes the irish squad. Carty has the chance to continue his clib form and if he does he’ll make the squad.
Burns dosent kick for his club so honestly needs to be much better thsn everyone else to make ireland and hes not.
@Chris Mc: Harry Byrne is not first choice for his club so why id he included if your using that logic? In fact his brother Is actually starting ahead of him is he not? He’s third choice 10 at Leinster and has done absolutely nothing in his senior career to justify an Irish cap. It’s a joke and it robs better players of caps
@guineon: i never said he should be in the squad. I just gave my opinion on why he’s there.
The better players you talk about burns? had a go and didnt take the shirt hes not an international outhalf, Ross the same and well attacking running rugby thats just not his game at all.
Carty is in great form in the league and if he continues he will force his way into the sqaud.
Healy is the very same as harry was 6 months ago, very young and has played very well in the limited time hes been given. But if hes to make the irish side he has to get past carbury.
I think Frawley is leinsters answer at 10 after sexton.
Farrells selection of both carbury and harry was to add on to the work he’d started in the summer internationals. This seems to be the reasoning to it.
@Chris Mc: I agree with the Frawley answer, he looks like a potential 10/12 in the vein of Owen Farrell, but he’s been very solid as a 10. Makes clever plays.
But I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Billy Burns, I think he’s still got feathers to his cap and could make it as international. I like what I’ve seen from Ben Healy so far, but with Carbury back he’ll have to be patient. Still plenty of big games ahead for him as Munster number 2.
@SPQH: the problem with burns is he doesnt kick for his club so to step up at international level would be some gamble.
Healy and frawley for me are the 2 we should be looking at.
I am not convinced by joey, hes always been more of a 15 for me. A top class goal kicker all the same.
Carty is playing the best of all of them and if he brings thst form into the next 3 or 4 weeks will make the irish squad.
Harry is young enough no question but he needs to start ahead of his brother or else he’ll fade away. I get why he was in the novwmber squad but Theres is no explanation for him in the squad for the 6 nations if hes not playing especially while sexton is out.
@Chris Mc: players need to be judged on European Cup games, it’s a higher standard than the league. Any player would look good when he comes on against a team when they are winning by 20+ points. Harry Byrne needs a run of games to settle in, as does a lot of other players. Parachuting players, especially young players, in and out of teams is hampering them.
@Patrick O Connell: the problem with setting europe as the standard is after sexton none have grest european form. Ross b played well v Exeter im not sure your suggesting he should play for ireland.
@Chris Mc: As an Ulster supporter I believe that Harry Byrne is the real deal. Just give the lad time. He’ll get there.
68 minutes of rugby. Says it all really. Least time is on his side.
Just a point of information. Burns has and does kick at goal for Ulster when Cooney is absent. He is actually an o.k. kicker. With the arrival of Doak also being a top level kicker Burns’ opportunities will be even fewer I suspect but he is decent enough. Ironically the best goal kicker in Ulster is Rob Lyttle. He is a phenomenal goal kicker.