The succession strategy for Ireland's No 13 jersey is clearly underway and the process has Joe Schmidt's fingerprints all over it. It currently looks a straight sprint between Robbie Henshaw, Jared Payne and Luke Fitzgerald to fill the massive void when Brian O'Driscoll retires next May.
The major problem between now and then will be getting regular game time in the position for their provincial sides.
Payne can’t tour Argentina in June as he doesn’t qualify for Ireland on residency grounds until next season but the Auckland born 28-year-old is being increasingly used at centre, rather than fullback for Ulster.
However, Stuart Olding’s injury means Payne at 15 with Darren Cave at 13 looks their likely Heineken Cup line-up.
A Munster player is not in the equation because of Casey Laulala but Leinster should increase Fitzgerald’s exposure in the coming months.
“I think he has got the skill set [to play centre],” said Leinster manager Guy Easterby. “Defensively he is very sound, physically he is sound, he has great passing game and great feet so he has got everything that a top 13 needs.
“What he probably needs is game time there now. He certainly has the ability to do it. We are looking for a long term successor to Brian and Luke has got to be right up there.”
Abysmal campaign
With O'Driscoll concussed and considering Fitzgerald only played 27 minutes against New Zealand, he could start this Saturday at home to the Scarlets, unless Matt O'Connor sticks with Brendan Macken or goes back to a fit again Lote Tuqiri.
Henshaw featured briefly at both centre and fullback against Australia but the return of the Dave McSharry-Eoin Griffin midfield partnership coupled with Connacht’s dire need to turn their abysmal campaign around will see him shift to 15 in Murrayfield this weekend.
That’s also where he won Connacht’s player of the year award last season.
Capped twice on last summer’s tour of North America before featuring twice off the bench against Australia, Henshaw’s size coupled with versatility makes him a rare commodity in Irish rugby.
O’Driscoll spoke last week about “coaching” the 20-year-old. The veteran’s calf injury prevented him training so Henshaw partnered Gordon D’Arcy in Carton House.
Sensing their mortality and remembering the help of senior players when they arrived on the scene at the turn of the 21st century, both O’Driscoll and D’Arcy are currently smoothing the pathway into the Test match arena for Henshaw and Luke Marshall (not that D’Arcy has any intention of giving up without a vicious fight).
“He said to me he learnt more in the last four weeks with these guys than all his life playing rugby,” said Tony Henshaw, father and agent to his son.
“He said it was incredible Tuesday and Wednesday last week as he was in the backline with O’Driscoll standing behind, telling him everything. He said he couldn’t buy what he learnt.”
Shaky night
On top of the hugely educational first cap, a shaky night running from fullback in Houston last June to the cameo at centre a week later in Toronto, Connacht further increased his time at 13 this season.
Schmidt saw enough to pick him as cover against Australia and for seven minutes, while O’Driscoll received treatment, he won a third cap. It was exposure to the highest level for the prodigious Athlone talent.
That learning curve will continue in Galway with Connacht having signed him up until the summer of 2016.
