Unlucky 13 no deterrent for focused McFadden

A QUICK study of Leinster centre Fergus McFadden’s rugby CV reveals the extraordinary statistic that he has played more often for Ireland than Leinster.

The 23-year-old McFadden has 18 caps with the Heineken Cup champions, half of them earned this season. However, his international appearances make more impressive reading – eight caps for Ireland A, nine at U21 level, seven at U19’s and another single appearance for the Ireland Universities, making a total of 25 games in the green of Ireland.

And while McFadden was playing second fiddle to Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy in 2009 with Leinster, he was very much involved at national level, having helped inspire Ireland to a sensational Churchill Cup victory over England Saxons in June.

Declan Kidney wasn’t the only one impressed; representatives from a couple of English Premiership clubs came calling but McFadden wasn’t budging, for now, at least.

Ironically, McFadden’s decision to stay has a lot to do with the man who has closed the door to his immediate prospects of donning the number 13 jersey for Leinster – Brian O’Driscoll.

However, O’Driscoll has been a source of inspiration for the talented youngster: “He is an inspirational type of guy and I have learned an awful lot from him, and Darce, in the last year. It can get kind of frustrating not getting games but I think I’m learning from them.”

Now getting close to the same playing level, McFadden admits he was once overawed training with a player who has become an icon for any aspiring young player in Ireland: “Maybe overawed isn’t the correct word, but when I was training with him, maybe I was looking at him thinking, ‘God, that's Brian O'Driscoll’.

McFadden has experience of playing at inside centre as well, but feels both the Leinster coach Michael Cheika and Kidney view him as a 13, which means that he might well have to continue to be patient as O’Driscoll blazes a trail through world rugby.

He explained: “Well, I can play both. I have played in Ireland A matches at 12 and for Leinster at 12, so I can play in both positions but long term, yeah, I'd probably think 13 is where Declan and Cheiks see me. So it's just a bonus to be able to play both in terms of fitting into squads.”

O’Driscoll once described the number 13 position as akin to a soccer centre-forward, and McFadden agrees: “I think you could almost call it centre-back as well. I know that might sound stupid but it's one of the most difficult positions on the pitch to defend from because you're so exposed, you have to make a lot more decisions.

“In terms of attack he's right because he knows better than most.

“Overall, working with Drico is great because he is such a great communicator; he does give advice but I find with observing I take a lot more in, just small little things he does. It's incredible; it's the tiny little differences that give him that bit of an edge at the top level.”

McFadden is named in the team to meet Glasgow Warriors at the RDS tonight (8pm) and is hoping to make an impact. “I was due to get a run last week against Connacht but the game was called off and that was disappointing; otherwise the last few weeks have been better overall for me. I have been in both squads for the Heineken Cup and I got 10-20 minute cameos in both of those games and now, hopefully, will get a run this weekend, weather conditions permitting.