SIX WEEKS ON the sideline, Dan Leavy was raring to go. He was desperate to make up for lost time, to make an impact. Within seconds of his arrival on the pitch at Scotstoun on Saturday, he conceded a penalty for a rash and over-zealous tackle.
Welcome back, Dan.
“It was the first game back for me, that’s probably not an excuse,” he says.
“Bit of rush of blood. I knew straight away what I had done. But I’m looking to right the wrongs this week against Ulster, make sure I’m squeaky clean again.”
Still, Leavy made 11 tackles during a 30-minute shift against Glasgow. He was straight back into it, working tirelessly around the fringes and causing havoc at the breakdown.
“It’s great to be back,” the flanker continues. “Hugely frustrating to be injured and watching the lads do so well in South Africa and such a good win against Montpellier.
“It was just nice to be back in the changing room after another successful day. Something I missed. You just want to play every game you are allowed so it was good to be back and really looking forward to Ulster this weekend.”
Before sustaining an ankle injury against Cardiff during the second game of the season, Leavy had built up a head of steam. Part of Ireland’s touring party for the summer tour of USA and Japan, the 24-year-old returned with form and fitness and the added benefit of having worked closely with Joe Schmidt for four weeks. And then injury struck.
A rolled ankle turned into something a lot more and the damage required surgery, leaving him frustrated on the sideline for six weeks. He missed the trip to South Africa, the inter-pro against Munster and then the Champions Cup opener at home to Montpellier. And all the while he watched Josh van der Flier and Rhys Ruddock excel.
But his performances in June, coupled with an outstanding breakthrough season for Leinster last term, should mean Leavy has credit in the bank with Schmidt.
“I hope so,” he continues. “The decision isn’t up to me. All I can do is keep trucking. Try and put in some big performances. I think we have Ulster then Glasgow away and then into the November break. It’s not really in my hands. The injury…there’s never a good time to get injured but it was pretty frustrating so again all I have to do is put up my hand and try to get back in.”
With van der Flier now struck down by an ankle problem, Leavy is expected to start at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday but competition for places is fierce; Ruddock has been Leinster’s best player this season while Sean O’Brien and Jordi Murphy are also desperate for game time.
Still, Leavy is in a good place. He knows if he can get back on the pitch, the performances will come.
“I got about three weeks training under his [Schmidt's] regime,” the former St Michael’s man says reflecting on the summer. “He drives the standard so high. It was intense but I feel I learned a lot and I know what he is looking for in terms of my own play and what he wants to see me doing.
“What Joe likes is someone who if he is given a job will complete his job and do what serves the team beast. Joe makes it very clear before each game what he wants to see from you. If you deliver he will be happy with you and if you go off doing your own thing then obviously he’s not going to be too pleased.
“I kind of take it game by game and hope for a big performance up in Ulster. And then we have Glasgow after that and if I’m in the November squad happy days and then I’ll try and put my hand up for a green jersey. I’m not really looking too much further than that.”
He’s hungry, and eager to make up for lost time.
“Personally I just want to be on the field as much as I can. It’s frustrating on the sideline watching the game unfold, just kind of waiting to get in. I wouldn’t say I prefer being on at the end. I prefer being on for the whole thing to be honest.”
Ulster beware.
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