Leinster go global to find Sexton successor

Leinster are scouring the world for a replacement for departing out-half Jonny Sexton, according to their skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy.

But the former Greystones fly-half believes Ian Madigan will be given ample opportunity to prove his worth to the European champions as the former Blackrock College player looks to make the step up from back-up to the first choice No10. The 23-year-old has done well when deputising for the Ireland pivot and has an impressive try-count, scoring six in 19 appearances this season.

Below Madigan, Leinster look light on out-halves, with Noel Reid and Cathal Marsh in the Academy and New Zealander Andrew Goodman only on a one-year deal.

Madigan, it appears, won’t have an automatic call on the jersey next season when Sexton departs to France according to the kicking coach, but he will be given his chance.

However, the eastern province are looking for a quality player to bring in and, with the likes of Springbok Morne Steyn on the market, have some options to choose from.

“Definitely, we definitely need to bring someone else in,” Murphy said yesterday. “It will come down to the situation of what’s available. The process is ongoing. I think the situation is that we have to see what’s out there and a decision has to be made on what way we have to go.

“And it’s not as easy as just saying, ‘we’ll back Ian Madigan’. Ian will play a lot of rugby and that’s not going to change. It’s a case of what else will be out there and that process is up and running at the moment, but we’ve nothing to report.”

Madigan looks certain to start on Friday when Leinster travel to Cardiff to take on the Blues in the Pro12.

He has not always been given the kicking duties, but Murphy has no doubts about the youngster’s abilities with the boot.

“Mads has worked really hard in that area in the last 18 months and we’ve seen pretty big improvements,” he said. “His routine is much more solid, he feels also that if there’s a problem area he’s able to fix it. From any kicker’s point of view, if you understand what you’re doing that’s the difference, to be able to self-correct as he goes.”

After their European exit, the domestic competition has taken on far more importance to last year’s beaten finalists who are currently third in the table.

They welcome back Dominic Ryan, Dave Kearney and Eoin O’Malley, while Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss and Leo Cullen should bring experience to their line-up to proceedings for the meeting of two teams shorn of their internationals who are on Six Nations duty. Murphy revealed that Cullen had not yet reached a decision on his future, but reckons that the captain, who turned 35 last month and whose contract expires at the end of the current campaign — has plenty to offer.

“No decision has been made on that yet,” he said. “Obviously against Exeter he was fantastic so there’s still plenty of life left in the old dog. It’s a case of seeing how things progress over the next few weeks.”