Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby

R, WHICH D WE NEED

“To start and play a full game for me in the quarter-final was a big one,” he admits. “In that game there were eight back rows, four on each team, and seven of the eight were all internationals, so to be competing with those sorts of people is pretty good.” “We have a lot of good back rows, so I know if I’m not playing well for a game or two then I won’t be playing. I think it’s probably the same for all of us, and it’s exciting because Marcell [Coetzee], Jordi [Murphy] and Sean [Reidy] have all been involved in huge international games and are world-class players, so it’s a good environment to be in.” “For me it’s a case of trying to get better at everything. In some games I’ve attacked very well and in others I’ve defended very well, so it’s a question of putting in a complete performance. A lot of the skillset I have to some degree, but putting in a complete performance in every game is an important one. I have always prided myself on not having any major glaringly obvious things I can’t do because I think as a back row you have to be able to do a bit of everything.” With 24 appearances to his name this season – and the prospect of at least two more – last year’s Abbey Insurance Academy Player of the Year is well on course to becoming the fourth back-row forward on Ulster books with full international honours – and there is no better stage to prove it on than in the throes of a fierce inter-provincial battle.

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