IT TAKES A special kind of winger to get under the skin of a second row.
In the build up to Leinster’s fifth try yesterday many eyes, including referee Marius Mitrea’s, were drawn away from the line-break and pass inside the 22 because the edifice that is Richie Gray was driven to shaking Fergus McFadden like an unwanted rag doll.
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Gray wasn’t the first of the visiting pack to show his frustration with McFadden either. Early in the second half, hooker Marc-Antoine Rallier loitered for a second after coming through a ruck and flung out a half-hearted fist on McFadden’s arm.
The winger must be an absolute nightmare to play against: a solid tackler, a direct carrier and an absolute pest in tight areas where players in his position are usually blown away.
“Ferg’s as tough a bloke as I’ve ever coached, he gives you real steel on that edge,” said Matt O’Connor after reporting no noteworthy injury to his hard-working wing.
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Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Complimenting that steel last night was the sprightly Dave Kearney on the opposite wing. The 25-year-old is now a month back after injury and returning to the peak of his powers in a back three that looks perfectly balanced.
“Dave’s getting back to some of the finishing that he demonstrated for us last year. It’s a good combination in the back three with Rob [Kearney] there. They look very dangerous with ball in hand, which is positive at this stage of the year.”
O’Connor agreed that last night was the best his back-line had performed this season, though he was careful not to even breath into his own trumpet, even going out of his way to lay some credit at the referee’s door.