Best years ahead for Leinster ‘baby’ McGrath, says Caputo

Playing 80 minutes used to be taken for granted in rugby.

Players who failed to do just that in times gone by were usually unable to walk, or think, or both, but the era of endless replacements has bred a generation of players for whom the concept of starting and finishing a game is anathema.

The lower your number the less likely your are to stay the course in a game where attrition levels have multiplied. Jack McGrath’s five years as a pro stand testament to that trend.

The Leinster prop had featured 65 times for his province prior to their opening Rugby Champions Cup tie against Wasps last October and only twice had he spanned the distance – against Ospreys and Connacht in the Pro12.

His international career spoke of something similar: played 10, played 80 in none. With that in mind, the last two months have witnessed a significant growth spurt in the loosehead prop’s career. With Cian Healy injured, McGrath clocked in for the duration against Wasps and Castres and he did so again two weekends ago against Australia having been called ashore with just six minutes to play against South Africa.

“In previous times, it would be 50/60 minutes so to go the full 80 is tough going. Looking back on last year and the New Zealand game, it was the same scenario so getting into that was a bit nervy. It was good to come through in a positive manner.”

Ah, yes, New Zealand.

It was McGrath who was penalised for going straight off his feet at a ruck with time almost up 12 months ago against the All Blacks and, right decision or wrong, it was a moment that led to the losing of the game for Ireland.

McGrath thought about that as the death throes approached against the Wallabies. Don’t make a mistake. Be onside. Do your job. Stay in the moment. He did. That lesson was learned. Another box ticked.

“He’s shown everyone how good a player Jack McGrath is,” said Leinster scrum coach Marco Caputo. “He’s still only a baby, 25-years-old, and his best years are ahead. He offers you things that most players at that elite level of Test rugby don’t give you. He’ll consistently top of the tackle count. He’s very good when he carries the ball. He’s very good on his detail and doesn’t make mistakes.”

Healy, though still injured, is playing his part this week by putting in the hours in the video room and analysing Harlequins ahead of the round three meeting at The Stoop on Sunday between the two unbeaten sides in Pool 2. McGrath will likely scrum up against Kyle Sinclair, the 21-year old tighthead on the verge of Stuart Lancaster’s England squad and who Caputo describes as ‘a facsimile’ of the Leinster loosehead.

The English clubs tend to fancy themselves in the physical stakes, of which the scrum is the acid test, and McGrath showed against the Springboks his scrummaging is one area where he has some room to improve. Caputo says that will happen.