Jack Conan in a hurry to make up for lost ground
Impressive form at provincial level led to the 24-year-old being capped against Scotland in August of last year, but with the likes of Josh van der Flier gaining recognition while he worked his way back from a series of injuries, Conan had slipped in the pecking order.
“I am envious of how the lads have gone in the last 12 months. You have seen people step up and take the mantle. Josh [van der Flier] has been absolutely fantastic.
"In my opinion, he has been our best player so far this year and through large periods of last season. Dan [Leavy] too, two lads I have known for many years,” Conan remarked at Leinster HQ yesterday.
“It is a great to see them going so well and taking their opportunity. I want that for myself now that I am back and fit finally. I just think I need to match the lads who have got those few extra weeks ahead of me. I am just happy to be back and focusing on myself.”
While Conan is now free from injury, the Blues do have a number of concerns ahead of Saturday’s trip to Zebre in the Guinness PRO12.
Rory O’Loughlin and Rhys Ruddock will be assessed later in the week before a decision is made on their availability, but as backs coach Girvan Dempsey revealed yesterday, the experienced duo of Fergus McFadden and Dave Kearney are still sidelined with respective quad and ankle complaints.
“No real update on Fergus. He still has that significant quad tear that he has, and he’s still going through his rehab. He’s probably halfway through it at the moment, and he’s progressing on,” Dempsey stated.
“Dave, just a little bit frustrating. It’s sort of week-to-week at this moment.
“It’s just that ankle, the physios aren’t 100% happy with the way it is, and they don’t want to throw him back in too early, so it breaks down. He has to clear a few end bits of his rehab programme.”
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