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Leinster's Dan Leavy is back on the training pitch after remarkable recovery from horror injury

Dan Leavy celebrates Leinster's 2018 European Champions Cup final win over Racing 92 in Bilbao (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Leinster flanker Dan Leavy has made a welcome return to the training pitch as he steps up his recovery from a horror knee injury. The Ireland international has been sidelined for over a year after sustaining serious knee ligament damage during Leinster’s Champions Cup quarter-final defeat of Ulster in March 2019.

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It was a second injury setback in quick succession for Leavy, who was 24 at the time.

The Leinster academy graduate had only returned from an injury which saw him miss all of Ireland’s 2019 Six Nations campaign.

Leavy was a key member of the Ireland team that enjoyed huge success in 2018, when Joe Schmidt’s squad won the Six Nations and recorded a first series win in Australia for 39 years.

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John Dobson presser July 30

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John Dobson presser July 30

In his 11 international caps to date, Leavy has never been on the losing side.

That same year, Leavy was instrumental as Leinster recorded a Pro14 and Champions Cup double.

Yet a stunning 2018 was followed by a devastating 2019. After missing Ireland’s Six Nations defence with a calf injury, Leavy left the pitch on a stretcher just 11 minutes after being introduced in the second-half of the Champions Cup win against Ulster.

The injury ruled Leavy out for the entire 2019/20 season – including the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Having damaged his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, there were even fears for Leavy’s career.

But Leinster have now issued a positive update on the player, posting a picture of Leavy back on the training pitch with ball in hand.

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Leinster are due to take on Munster at the Aviva Stadium on August 22 when the Guinness Pro14 returns.

The province have been cleared to enter the next phase of their return to rugby, which includes a graduated return to contact training, after the IRFU confirmed that both Leinster and Munster had returned zero positive results from the latest round of Covid-19 testing.

It is still not clear when we can expect to see Leavy back in competitive action, but this latest step is a much-welcome milestone for a player who had been highly influential for both Leinster and Ireland.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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