Mike Ross: ‘I have a loan of the jersey this week’

Mike Ross makes no bones about it: He feared his Ireland career was over.

For so long the undisputed tighthead for both club and country, Ross suddenly found himself with his weekends all to himself last month right when Leinster were embroiled in do-or-die European fare.

Not just dropped to the bench, but omitted from the match day squad as Leinster coach coach Matt O’Connor opted for the youth and vigour of Marty Moore to start against Castres and Wasps and Tadhg Furlong to provide the cover.