Opportunity knocks for rookie O’Brien

OPPORTUNITY will come knocking for Sean O’Brien at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon and the Leinster back row knows he better make the most of his chance in an Ireland jersey.

After three turns off the replacements bench in the last 12 months, the 23-year-old from Carlow has been finally given his first international start by head coach Declan Kidney in the weekend’s Test against Samoa.

Rave reviews on the openside for Leinster have been pouring in all season but with Kidney spoiled for choice across the back row, O’Brien was brought back down to earth with an almighty clatter last week when he failed to even make the matchday squad to face world champions South Africa.