Desire burns bright for mature O’Brien

THE availability of Shane Jennings for Leinster’s Heineken Cup clash against Brive at the RDS tomorrow might be good news for coach Michael Cheika but is hardly a source of delight for Sean O’Brien.

The 22-year-old from Tullow in Carlow has had more or less a free rein during the last 12 weeks when Jennings was suspended and there is no doubt he made a huge contribution to Leinster’s Heineken Cup resurgence after the shock opening defeat to London Irish.

This week was unlike any other in the last three months, with O’Brien sweating over whether he gets to play a big part or a mere cameo role in tomorrow’s match.