Ross Byrne continues to defy the doubters

He has seen Joey Carbery off at Leinster and stood up to the candidacies of his brother Harry and Ciaran Frawley.

Leinster's Ross Byrne in action during the Champions Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

The temptation is to label Ross Byrne as Irish rugby’s great survivor. As the out-half who continues to defy the doubters and remain intrinsic to Leinster’s hopes and dreams, as he had done long before Johnny Sexton hung up the boots.

Byrne has been praised, damningly at times, as a capable player but a man with a ceiling below more celebrated contenders for the shirt and yet he has withstood all sorts of challenges and challengers to stay at the summit of the game.