Waiting for the ball is no longer a winger's way. With their energy, physicality and willingness to seek conflict, Dave Kearney and Andrew Trimble became Ireland's trusted wide men as the Six Nations title was captured last March.
With Tommy Bowe returning from injury and Simon Zebo temporarily exiled, Kearney excelled and Trimble's bursts and leaps eventually brought him the player of the season award.
Then they both got injured and a role reversal took place in November as Bowe and Zebo reclaimed their jerseys.
“The lads went very well,” says Kearney, two games back from a cruciate ligament tear that interrupted his best period as a professional.
"They worked very hard and got a lot of ball as well, which is always nice for a winger. There's obviously plenty of competition for Irish spots, never mind Leinster spots.
“They weren’t in the mix last Six Nations but they are this time. That’s the way luck goes. Players get injured and other players get chances.”
Remained loyal
It should be noted that Bowe was available before the Paris game last March but
Joe Schmidt
remained loyal to his chosen pair. Hardest worker gets rewarded under the new regime.
“I think so,” says Kearney. “If everybody is playing well and everybody is available, then he will pick the in-form players. He doesn’t go on reputation or on who’s who. It’s how you are playing there and then.”
Kearney won seven caps in the 2013/14 campaign but the nightmare scenario arrived as he was forced to watch Bowe and more pertinently Zebo contribute to Ireland victories over Australia and South Africa.
Craig Gilroy, Fergus McFadden and Keith Earls should have a say in this debate at some point. Luke Fitzgerald too. Maybe even Andrew Conway and Darragh Leader. Felix Jones is another option.
For now, none of that matters. Such is the ever-rising injury rate, it’s highly unlikely that all these wingers will be fit come February’s trip to Rome.
After two 80-minute outings – in Treviso and against the Ospreys – Kearney is poised to re-launch his quest for the green jersey on Sunday at The Stoop.
That’s to presume he keeps others, possibly Fitzgerald, at bay. Darragh Fanning has arguably been Leinster’s most consistent player this campaign but Zane Kirchner’s switch to right wing might happen to facilitate Rob Kearney’s return from a shoulder injury.
“Darragh’s been going great. He’s had a lot of game time this season and he’s played very well. It’s going to be very difficult to get a spot.”
This time last year so many players, having just suffered the horror defeat to New Zealand, slotted impressively back into their blue hue.
“It was just such a big week for us,” said Kearney. “We knew how big a test it was going to be against Northampton who were up at the top of the table and performing really well. It’s the same this week.”
The only difference being the opposition is not Northampton but Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins. Last year Leinster were close to flawless when routing the Premiership leaders in a performance that was primed to define their season.
Except it didn’t. A week later Northampton came to Dublin and won, completing a 44-point swing, and creating a domino effect which ultimately led to Leinster losing in Toulon.
Screw up a ruck
Kearney is now back in the swing of things and talking about areas ripe for improvement. “If you don’t get quick ball, the opposition will screw up a ruck and you don’t get it wide,” he says.
“That’s one of the things we need to work on. If we can get those things right, we can start to throw the ball around a bit more”.
That’s worth the wait.
