The team keeping Leinster fit for the fray

When Leinster’s Six Nations heroes returned to provincial camp, they were met by the most advanced strand of medical and physical screening available.

Four weeks ago, Ronan O’Gara began to talk up Jason Cowman’s integral part in the senior Ireland set-up when Tom McGurk cut across him mid-sentence and diverted the conversation back towards something more mainstream.

Cowman isn’t box office. He is the squad’s strength and conditioning coach, one of those almost anonymous men and women seen around teams and camps whose job it is to allow sportspeople take to the track or field in optimal condition.