Michael Bent still harbours Ireland dreams

When Michael Bent made his Ireland debut in November 2012, little did he know a 21-year-old making his Leinster bow that very same month would be the man who’d solve Ireland’s tighthead crisis.

Bent, the New Zealand born prop with an Irish grandmother, joined Leinster at a time the country feared they’d never have a top class tighthead prop again.

He was fasttracked by head coach Declan Kidney, playing for Ireland against South Africa and Argentina before pulling on the Leinster shirt, much to the dismay of many pundits and former players.