Rugby League convert set for competitive debut

These elite sabbaticals are, as you say, beneficial to both countries. It'll be interesting to see what ROG teaches DMac.

Only Leinster & Toulouse take both comps seriously isn’t arrogant or disrespectful? Ofc it’s not, nor is it dismissive, disdainful or derogatory. Except it is!!!

As for Leinster meltdown, it’s not like they haven’t lost one or a few finals recently so fair cop you got me there! Or maybe not…

Ditto with Stuart Lancaster.

Your reticence to back Ireland speaks volumes…

What Conan said about Barrett was interesting and it was his calm, vision and decision making. He has free license now in defence but its not far off that situation in attack. He popped up in the 13 channel drew a player which meant Ringrose was faced with a couple of front rows and skinned them. Barrett saw that potential try before even Ringrose.

Has dummy and pass for Tommy O’Brien created the overlap for that try, completely bought by the Scotland defender but hard to blame him, everyone thought Barrett was going to shovel it on to O’Brien and the Scot bit.

Lastly Kyle Rowe was chasing a kick on. Barrett got there first and it looked like best option might have been a run infield to evade Rowe and then pass. But Barrett sense, or maybe saw Rowes face, Rowe was cooked. So Barrett feigned the infield run as Row was expecting and just doubled back. Rowe was done. Barrett got a huge kick upfield to completely diffuse that danger.

His free role at Leinster is showcasing his skill set, but also both his judiciousness in when and where to apply the skills and his clarity and decsision making under what should be severe pressure.

Actually the tackle on Vaipolu was significant. He broke from a scrum targetted Barrett and was hoping to flatten him as he did a few Leicester players the preceding week. Whatver Barrett did, Vaipola was on his ass and turned over a couple of seconds later.