On a dark Sunday evening in November 2020, the day after Ireland had lost to England at Twickenham in the Autumn Nations Cup, Leinster hosted Cardiff at an empty RDS in the Pro14. Rugby was keeping the show on the road but there wasn’t much to illuminate the gloom. Not until the 15th minute anyway.
Leading 7-0, Leinster moved the ball from a line-out on the right across the pitch to fullback Jimmy O’Brien, hugging the left touchline on his own 10 metre line. In what seemed the blink of any eye he raced over half-way, expertly chipped Blues fullback Matthew Morgan and turned a 40-60 chase for the bouncing ball with the covering Jason Tovey into a try when plucking the ball from the latter’s grasp to run on and score.
That opportunist try, in just his 16th Leinster start, showcased his awareness of space, speed, footballing ability and trusty left boot. It was four days …
- May 7, 2022
