WITH HIS BLEACHED blonde hair, it’s difficult to miss Luke McGrath but the Leinster scrum-half has been catching the eye in more ways than one this season.
Despite the arrival of Kiwi Jamison-Gibson Park, the former St Michael’s pupil has established himself as Leo Cullen’s first-choice nine in the opening stages of the campaign.
The departure of Eoin Reddan and Isaac Boss opened the door for McGrath, and he’s seized his chance with six appearances already this term.
“It’s brilliant, delighted to get the game time,” he said as Leinster begin preparations for a trip to Montpellier.
“I feel like I’m getting more comfortable and up to speed and as that game time comes. I know myself I still have a lot to work on as I’m still a young player coming in and I haven’t had that many games at a European level, think that was my third at the weekend, so I’m still getting into it.
“I wasn’t sure what was going to happen [with Reddan and Boss]. Getting that game time has been brilliant for me and I’ve just been trying to work as hard as possible to become the best player. Still have a lot of things to work on but I’m really enjoying my rugby at the moment.”
He was forced to wait patiently for an opportunity under the previous regime at Leinster but was rewarded with a full-time contract at the start of last season.
Although injuries led to frustration in Cullen’s first year in charge, McGrath was always working hard, keen to impress and trying to force his way into the reckoning.
And anytime he got on the pitch, he impressed. Joe Schmidt has been monitoring his progress closely and included the 23-year-old in his extended panel for a pre-Six Nations camp last January.
So now that he’s getting regular game time, is an international call-up at the back of his mind?
“It’s definitely a goal for everyone who has kind of been in and out of camp a bit but I have to do my talking on the pitch and play it by actions,” he says.
“If that’s good enough it’s good enough but if not just keep working hard and see how things go.”
For now, the focus remains on Leinster and Champions Cup rugby.
After starting the campaign with a bonus-point win on Saturday, McGrath and his team-mates now the size of the task now facing them this weekend.
“It’s a great start for us and we’ll know Montpellier will be up for this. It’s a massive game and one everyone is looking forward to. We know we’ll have to play some of our best rugby this season if we want to get a result. Big training week ahead.
“We put a massive importance on the first game and now that that one is gone, the second one is even bigger, especially because it’s away from home. It’s a massive challenge and one everyone is looking forward to.
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