Bent not ready yet to prop up Leinster

Leinster’s latest signing of an Irish-qualified tighthead prop was always going to make news given the difficulties experienced by the national team and some of the provincial sides at scrum-time in recent weeks.

However, Leinster and Ireland scrum coach, Greg Feek, has made it clear that Michael Bent is not yet the finished article.

The Hurricanes forward can play both tighthead and loosehead but has only limited experience of Super Rugby although Feek knows him well having seen him operate as a youngster with Taranaki’s second-string.

Bent isn’t young. He will turn 26 later this month but his possession of an Irish passport – he also has a sister living in Dublin – and the fact that props tend to mature much later than other players have persuaded Leinster to bring him over this summer.

“We obviously want quality in terms of a rugby player,” said Feek yesterday. “He has to have potential in terms of playing the Rabo Direct and the Heineken Cup but it was certainly something that was a pre-requisite and he satisfied that.”

All that is for next season. Leinster’s priority right now is Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Cardiff Blues at the Aviva Stadium for an encounter which has already sold 48,000 tickets and counting.

Jonathan Sexton has been given the all-clear having been withdrawn against Munster last weekend with cramp while Gordon D’Arcy and Mike Ross will also make the squad list despite being treated for cuts in Limerick. Brad Thorn featured in the win at Thomond Park despite suffering from flu which has since eased although Eoin O’Malley is a doubt for the tie. His calf injury will be examined ahead of Friday’s team announcement.