Competition part of fun for Kearney

Dave Kearney has learned to keep the focus internal at Leinster.

The 24-year-old’s route to a starting slot opened up considerably during the summer with the departure of Isa Nacewa, Andrew Conway and Fionn Carr, but then Zane Kirchner arrived and Lote Tuqiri followed on a short-term deal.

Between them, the South African and Australian possess 95 international caps and a good deal more besides, but international duty and injury have, respectively, prevented the southern hemisphere pair from making their mark thus far.