Rory O’Loughlin aiming to impress as opportunity knocks

Rory O’Loughlin: Ireland international.

Most of us would have scoffed at the notion this time last year. The man himself might have even joined in the merriment but, here he is now, one of 27 players in the Leinster squad to be capped at senior level by his country.

Yep, 27. The province’s strength in depth is frankly ridiculous, the quality of its academy system embodied by the 23-year-old who only made his debut in last season’s PRO12 opener against Treviso but went on to play another 21 times and bag 10 tries.