In 2009, shortly after returning from the Lions’ tour of South Africa, Michael Cheika pulled me aside: “You are not playing well enough.”Younger Leinster players were getting minutes ahead of me. Leinster’s performance against Ulster last Friday was flawed, but what is emerging this season is their willingness to fight through sketchy form. Leinster’s Harry Byrne celebrates winning the URC match between Leinster and Ulster at Aviva Stadium last Friday. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/InphoTheir form raises a question Leinster rarely need to answer: are some selections beginning to tilt towards merit rather than reputation? It raises an important point about the club’s selection policy as picking a provincial side based on reputation rather than form does everyone a disservice.

Source: The Irish Times December 24, 2025 18:58 UTC