Plenty to get fans excited but change on horizon for league

Three reasons to relish the return

1 Fly-half battles

Jonny Sexton’s decision to seek fame and fortune in Paris left many assuming Ian Madigan would stride straight into the Leinster No 10 shirt, following an immense breakthrough season that saw him showcase his versatility and finish as top scorer. New signing Jimmy Gopperth is a very able operator with Super Rugby and Aviva Premiership experience, but Madigan is numero uno for the big games, right? Not so, says the province’s skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy: “It’s not the case and it’s not what we would want here. We always want competition for places.”