IN THIS MODERN age of overlapping international and provincial schedules, the fine margins between success and failure are not solely defined by the number of Test players in a squad but the means available to replace them.
Even allowing for his relative inexperience in the job, Leo Cullen knows this better than most — the deeper the resource pool, the greater chance you’ll stand of mounting a competitive challenge as the season progresses.
Last week, the Leinster head coach used 13 players under the age of 25 for his side’s victory in Belfast and tonight has been forced to shuffle his deck again for the weighty visit to Glasgow Warriors [KO 7.35pm, live on TG4's YouTube channel].
It’s just the reality of it, and certainly Leinster, through their remarkable academy system, are best equipped to deal with the loss of as many as 14 internationals this weekend.
Conor O’Brien is the latest product off the conveyor belt, the 21-year-old centre set to make his senior debut for the province after impressing in the British and Irish Cup over the last two weekends.
Jordan Larmour gets his chance after that virtuoso performance against Ulster and Max Deegan is handed a start at number eight. Another academy prospect, Josh Murphy, is on the bench, as is Hugo Keenan. The list is endless.
“Over the course of the year you need them,” Cullen said last week, referring to the ‘kids’ in the squad.
“It’s something we’ve worked so hard on, giving young guys the opportunities to grow. We did it two years ago and again last year, and suddenly we’re in a much healthier place.”
Certainly, they’re heading in the right direction.
At this early juncture of the season, the province head into tonight’s fixture — the final one in the first block before the November break — with six wins from seven in the Pro14 and two out of two in the Champions Cup.
Step-by-step, block-by-block, Cullen and Stuart Lancaster are building something at Leinster with the mix of youth and experience coming to real fruition in the second season under this coaching team.
“It probably helps that we’re all playing together,” Ross Byrne says.
“Quite a lot of us broke through last year so I suppose it’s not just one or two of us, I don’t know how many of us are playing at this stage. It’s definitely helping that if you are struggling you can talk to someone or if you’re in a situation that you’re not quite sure of, they can help you out. It makes a big difference.”
Byrne is one player who has grown in considerable stature in the space of 12 months.
He made his senior debut in September 2015 but last season was a real coming of age for the out-half, who was thrown in at the deep end at various stages and emerged with the experience and confidence from it.
Later, he’ll make his 37th appearance for Leinster as he once again deputises for Johnny Sexton in the 10 shirt following composed performances against Montpellier and Ulster; he’s shining in his illustrious team-mate’s shadow.
“I’ve probably come along way in two years and even since last year I’ve probably improved quite a lot,” he continues. “I feel a lot more comfortable at this level as well and as a whole it makes it a lot easier when the team is winning. Everything is going well and personally very happy.
“It’s probably more just this year I have the experience of last year so then you know you have that in the bank, you’ve been at this level and you’ve played against these players before. You know what to expect whereas last year everything is new. Obviously some things are new but having that experience makes a big difference.”
One of the big differences, he says, is decision making. Having the confidence to make those big plays and having the conviction to execute them. That comes from the trust of the coaches, but also the respect of his team-mates.
“Just backing myself which is probably something I’ve always done, I’ve just done it a lot more this year than last year. I wasn’t second guessing myself but not really sure on if I was making the right decision whereas this year even if I’m not making the right decision I’m just going with it because you have to back yourself.
“Even at the weekend [against Ulster] there were decisions I made that were probably wrong, probably didn’t work but I had still gone with it. Last year I would have been worried about making the wrong decision whereas this year I’ve just backed myself a lot more.
“Being here for a year definitely makes a big difference and to have that experience of playing in those big games you feel more comfortable.”
Byrne’s performances in blue last season earned him a first senior contract following graduation from the academy and as he continues on an upward curve, his laid-back and influential playing style is beginning to be likened more and more to Sexton’s.
To be fair, it’s easy to make comparisons between two similarly built out-halves, but the 22-year-old insists they’re very different players.
He explains: “We definitely have similarities in how we play but we also have differences and how we think about different things. It probably helps me a little bit that if Johnny’s not playing I think similar to him and maybe the coaches might put me in because they feel we’re quite similar.
“But we’re not the same player, I’m definitely a different player to Johnny and I think they’re happy that I might not make the same decision as him but they’ll still back the decision I’m going to make.”
But talk of an Ireland call-up? Byrne says there has been no contact from Schmidt, even if the head coach’s options for November were relatively limited given the unavailability of Paddy Jackson. In the end, he opted to recall Ian Keatley and use Joey Carbery as additional cover for Sexton.
“To be honest, I’m not sure,” he adds, when the prospect of international rugby is raised.
“The only thing I can do is keep playing for Leinster, play as well as I can and, hopefully, get a call. Everyone wants to play for their country. That is the goal.
“At the moment, I’m just focused on each week here in Leinster and Glasgow is all I’m focused on this week.”
Glasgow Warriors:
15. Ruaridh Jackson
14. Lelia Masaga
13. Nick Grigg
12. Sam Johnson
11. Niko Matawalu
10. Peter Horne
9. George Horne
1. Jamie Bhatti
2. George Turner
3. D’Arcy Rae
4. Tim Swinson
5. Scott Cummings
6. Rob Harley
7. Callum Gibbins (captain)
8. Matt Fagerson
Replacements:
16. Pat MacArthur
17. Alex Allan
18. Adam Nicol
19. Lewis Wynne
20. Matt Smith
21. Henry Pyrgos
22. Alex Dunbar
23. Leonardo Sarto
Leinster:
15. Jordan Larmour
14. Adam Byrne
13. Rory O’Loughlin
12. Conor O’Brien
11. Dave Kearney
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Ed Byrne
2. Seán Cronin
3. Michael Bent
4. Ross Molony (captain)
5. Mick Kearney
6. Scott Fardy
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Max Deegan
Replacements
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Peter Dooley
18. Andrew Porter
19. Josh Murphy
20. Dan Leavy
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Hugo Keenan
Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU).
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