Isa Nacewa: Jordan Larmour's an 'absolute firecracker'
Leinster skipper Isa Nacewa likes to maintain very high standards around the province and thus, never hands out praise too easily but he was full of it for the newest back-line sensation Jordan Larmour this afternoon.
The 20-year-old has made his senior breakthrough this season, scoring two fantastic tries in six appearances, three of those from the start.
He is named to start at full-back at the RDS tomorrow night when the Dragons come to visit in the Guinness PRO14.
"Jordi's an absolute firecracker. He only knows a hundred miles an hour! It's awesome to be with and play with and train with," said Nacewa at the pre-match press conference this afternoon at the RDS.
"He works on his game so hard on the field and off that he's just getting better every week in training and now he gets to start at 15 again [I hope] that he just looks forward to it really. But his energy is his absolute key [trait] and it's something that all of us thrive off."
Another young man who gets a chance to shine tomorrow night is 22-year-old flanker Josh Murphy who has been handed his first senior start, just three weeks after his debut off the bench in the PRO14 defeat to Glasgow.
Head coach Leo Cullen said today that newest back row academy graduate would have made his full debut sooner if it hadn't been for the jaw injury sustained in the pre-season clash with Gloucester.
"When you're a young player and you're in there, you're in there. You get an injury, then you fall back out of the group and then you battle your way to get back in again. He's worked his way through again and yea, he's impressed at training, he brings a real abrasive edge."
The Blues boss was asked for his thoughts on Eddie O'Sullivan's suggestion this week that Joey Carbery should move to a different province to get more game-time at outhalf.
Cullen pointed to World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett who has carved out a fine career switching between full back and outhalf.
"Joey, in many ways, is similar to that type of profile. I think the exposure he gets at 15 is very good for his overall game, whether he ends up as a 10 or a 15, we'll wait and see. But there's always going to be some media views as to what's best for him but Joey's making great progress, that's the main thing.
"He's been a really important contributor for us. You see how dangerous a threat he is with Ireland when he plays as well. Irish rugby and Leinster rugby are very lucky to have him."
Is Cullen under any pressure from the international management team to play Carbery more often at outhalf?
"Do I feel pressure? No. There's no issues like that at all. Joey's playing, he's happy so it hasn't been an issue at all."
Leinster Rugby team vs Newport Gwent Dragons (caps in brackets):
15. Jordan Larmour (6)
14. Fergus McFadden (156)
13. Rory O'Loughlin (29)
12. Noel Reid (88)
11. Isa Nacewa (174) CAPTAIN
10. Ross Byrne (33)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (37)
1. Ed Byrne (12)
2. Seán Cronin (137)
3. Michael Bent (95)
4. Ross Molony (52)
5. Scott Fardy (6)
6. Josh Murphy (1)
7. Jordi Murphy (93)
8. Max Deegan (7)
16. Richardt Strauss (149)
17. Peter Dooley (40)
18. Andrew Porter (15)
19. Ian Nagle (11)
20. Jack Conan (59)
21. Nick McCarthy (12)
22. Cathal Marsh (24)
23. Conor O'Brien (1)
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