Ireland U20s leaning on senior prep ahead of Italian test

How much value did Brian Gleeson get from spending time in Caelan Doris’ orbit? It must have been a treasure trove of information, inside knowledge and tidbits.

MIXING WITH THE BEST: Brian Gleeson and Jack Conan. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

U20s international rugby asks questions of a young player that they’ve never faced before. The pace of the game, the raised standards, the days on end spent in camp, the glare of the TV lights: it’s a big ask.

That said, nothing can test them like their down weeks.