Fitzgerald primed for Castres clash

FEW Irish rugby players have matured with quite the same speed as Luke Fitzgerald.

Last week’s Magners League tie against the Dragons at the RDS — a game he watched from the stands — was further proof of that.

With the autumn internationals in the rearview mirror and Castres arriving in Dublin tomorrow for the Heineken Cup, Michael Cheika took the opportunity to rest some of the chiefs and promote some of his younger indians.

The new boys didn’t need to be asked twice. Sean O’Brien took the man of the match plaudits with a rampaging display in the back row, Cian Healy and Devin Toner assisted capably in the pack and Fergus McFadden caught the eye beside Brian O’Driscoll at centre.

Fitzgerald, at 21, is the same age as O’Brien and Healy and a year younger than McFadden and Toner.

And yet the Blackrock boy was among the numerous grizzled veterans sitting in the Anglesea Stand with the evening off. Given the choice, he would have been out on the park but he understands the reasoning behind Cheika’s selection policy.

“Obviously, it’s whetted the appetite a little bit,” he agreed. “Being involved in training last week and not being able to play was tough.

“But I enjoyed the break. I’ve been feeling recharged and looking forward to, hopefully, being involved Saturday.”

He will most certainly be involved and, with a record of a try in almost every third game for Leinster, he may well be one of the keys that unlocks the French team’s defence. He won’t lack reasons to impress.

It can’t be easy sitting in the bleachers watching someone else wear your shirt as he did last weekend, especially when that someone is fitting into it as comfortably as McFadden did against the Dragons.

“The guys who came in were fantastic. Fergus did a really good job and it was great to see Seanie getting a run. He’s a quality player. But I’m really happy for the players coming in but it is tough watching because there’s just more competition now.”

He admitted: “I was really happy that Ferg played well. I’d always be looking for Leinster to do well and if he plays well and that helps the team I’m happy for him.”

Spoken like a true veteran, which he almost is now having played 47 times for his province as well as seven for his country. Most of those appearances have, however, been made as a wing and not as a centre or full-back where his heart lies. As is so often the case, his opportunity to play alongside O’Driscoll came through the misfortune of others, Gordon D’Arcy breaking an arm in last season’s Six Nations and Isa Nacewa suffering a similar injury. It remains to be seen where he features when one or both return but Fitzgerald has adapted well to his new posting after the more isolated surroundings of the touchline and he is relishing the chance to learn from the master himself.

“It’s great to play in there with Brian. He’s very experienced and he’s obviously a quality player. It’s great just to learn things off him and pick up as much as I can. I’m really enjoying being in there with him.”

Not least over the last month which saw the pair of Blackrock graduates feature together against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina, even if it was a mixed bag in terms of results and, particularly, team performances.

“I was happy enough. There’s obviously a lot of improving to do but I was happy enough with how I came through the games. They were very tough opposition, There were two teams who are in the top four, seedings-wise, for the World Cup. So, I was really happy that I came through the games pretty well. It was fantastic to be involved in all three games. A real honour.”