Deegan: Big game involvement key to Ireland recall

GUNNING FOR GREEN: Leinster's Max Deegan.  ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Max Deegan may have just notched his 100th appearance for Leinster but the back rower feels in a hurry, both to fulfill his potential with the province and reignite his Ireland career.

Reaching a century of caps, as the 27-year-old did at the RDS last Saturday in Leinster’s 34-13 BKT URC victory over the Sharks is as good a time as any for reflection on a career to date and the prospects for further progression. 

And Deegan did just that this week as he looked ahead to this Saturday afternoon’s round-three meeting with Edinburgh at the same venue.

"I wouldn't say I'm necessarily old but I'm one of the older, more experienced players in the squad now and I'm definitely trying to bring that into the way I carry myself around the building,” he said.

“But also there's still so much competition ahead of me that I'm trying to get through and get by and get into these teams that are competing in Champions Cup finals and competing for the big trophies.

"I'm constantly trying to get better, 100 caps doesn't mean that there's not room for growth, there's a ton of room for growth. I was 27 two weeks ago and I'm looking forward to getting better, to keep going as a player and as a leader now that I'm a bit more experienced.” 

Deegan’s eagerness to kick on is a collective trait in Leo Cullen’s squad after a second successive season without silverware, both of which concluded with a URC semi-final exit and a Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle.

"I think most of the squad would feel unfulfilled the way that we've gone recently enough, losing finals and things like that. 

"I don't think anyone is fulfilled with that. I couldn't think of many players in the squad who would feel completely fulfilled, I think that's the way a competitive person would look at their career.

"So no, I wouldn't say I am completely fulfilled and I feel like there's so much time but it's trying to really get going now. I think last year went well, I was unlucky not to get in the Irish squad but just really pushing to get back in that. 

"The way to do that is to get in the starting Leinster team and push to play in the big games.” 

With a quartet of Leinster back-rowers – Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier – ahead of Deegan in Andy Farrell’s Ireland pecking order, the two-cap international sees a straightforward challenge in forcing his way back into the national squad for the 2024 Six Nations.

There is also comfort of a certain aspect in the selection near-misses and injury setbacks he has endured since bench selections against New Zealand A in Dublin last November and a second full cap, also as a replacement in that month’s Test against Fiji.

"I came off in the A game and then I came off the bench for the seniors then two weeks later, so I felt in amongst it then and I felt really good. Then I picked up an injury against Munster and that set me back a month and a half, two months, and I missed the Six Nations squad. I felt I was pushing to get back in the mix then, leading up to the World Cup training squad announcement, but just missed the cut there.

"I believe I get on well with the coaches and I love the set-up in there, it's a great environment. But to get back in there, I just really need to focus on how well I'm doing here, what I'm doing at Leinster, pushing as hard as I can here and pushing the players around me.

"There are four back rows in the Ireland squad from Leinster so if you're beating them in here then you're getting into the Ireland squad, I believe.

“If you're playing week in, week out in the Leinster team I think you have a good chance of getting in the Ireland squad.”