Kearney happy to be back in the picture
Over the last three weeks 20-year-old Kearney, a former Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star, has taken full advantage of the injury-enforced absence of the experienced Girvan Dempsey, and gained the attention of Eddie O’Sullivan.
A solid performance against Ulster, he stepped up again against the Ospreys, followed by his biggest day out, last week’s Heineken Cup win over Leinster bogey-side Edinburgh, has put Kearney very much back in the forefront of emerging Irish talent.
Yet, according to Leinster coach Michael Cheika, none of that is enough to guarantee that Kearney will keep his place for the visit to Kingsholm.
Said Cheika: “There are some tough decisions to be made now.
“We’ll pick our team Thursday, but with Brian O’Driscoll and Girvan Dempsey coming back, it’s hard to leave either of those two out. There will probably be a few changes, it’s a matter of what we decide to do.”
Brian O’Driscoll was always going to be a certainty; team captain, world-class — even if Leinster did romp home last week without him Brian is still their main man. The problem for Kearney, however, is that Girvan Dempsey too has been playing outstanding rugby for Leinster in recent years, rejuvenated by the freedom given him by Cheika and defensive coach David Knox. It will probably be a close call, but looks like going the way of the veteran, judging by Cheika’s comment: “Hard to leave either of those two out.”
It is a measure of Kearney’s recent progress, however, that it’s even a matter for discussion, a measure of his recent progress also that he will now also be measured against Girvan for the Irish shirt. “It’s brilliant,” he says, of his international call-up, “A great opportunity to get closer to the match squad, which has to be the target.”
Ironically, while Dempsey is now threatened by Kearney, Rob himself is under pressure for both Leinster and Ireland by someone even younger, teenager Luke Fitzgerald.
A dip in form at the start of this season — after a hugely impressive debut last season — had seen Kearney leapfrogged in the pecking order by the widely touted Fitzgerald, and there was talk of slippage, of Kearney perhaps being forced out of the Leinster equation, looking for work elsewhere.
That could still happen, Kearney admits, but for now at least, he’s happy to be back in the picture: “There were some tough times, I was training well but not transferring that onto the pitch (in games). What I most credit myself for is just being patient and I knew that eventually some good form would follow.”
The try against the Ospreys was a possible turning point, Kearney believes. “It was a massive lift. I’ve always said it would take something small to get the confidence rolling, get things going again, and you could say it was that. The try is something that sort of sparked me on a bit.”
And what of a possible move, in the longer term? “I love Leinster, I love everything about it, the coaching staff, the setup; at the same time, my goal is to play for Ireland and to do that you need regular action. I don’t get regular action here because of the quality of the backline, but there are brilliant facilities, coaching staff, all of that. It’s important to weigh up all the options before coming to any decision.”
Would one of those options be a trip south, to Munster perhaps?
“Nothing has crossed my mind yet; it’s important to get a few games under the belt, try and get the form back as best I can.”
The form is most definitely back; his problem, however, is that with Dempsey back in contention and Fitzgerald coming up fast, could be getting those games under his belt.
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