Tyler Bleyendaal: Last week shows why Leinster need stock of No.10s

BATTLE OF THE TENS: Harry Byrne, Ciaran Frawley, Sam Prendergast and Ross Byrne have been battling it out for the number ten jersey at Leinster.

Leinster attack coach Tyler Bleyendaal believes the very different weeks put in by the province’s various No.10s shows why they require such strength in depth in various positions as they chase silverware on two fronts.

Sam Prendergast was again away on Ireland duties, where he started at out-half in the Six Nations win against Wales, but Ciaran Frawley and Harry Byrne both picked up head injuries in the Ireland ‘A’ defeat to England the next day.

Harry Byrne has already made a temporary move across the Irish Sea to join Bristol Bears in his search for greater game time, and it was announced last week that his older brother Ross will move permanently to Gloucester next summer.

Leinster’s depth chart has long been a source of debate in Irish rugby circles with the argument being that players, other provinces and the game as a whole would benefit more from moves away from Dublin, but resources can be stretched thin at short notice in rugby.

“That’s exactly right,” said Bleyendaal. “You can always have a surplus in any position and then seem to have an injury crisis and you’re scrambling for high-quality players. The frustration comes, I guess, when you’re not getting opportunities at game time.

“We’ve probably seen that with the tens that were in the building, and especially at the start of the year, so you get a few injuries and guys are out for an extended period of time and it is great to have high-quality players that can roll in and keep the game flowing.

“You can’t always have that luxury but I feel like we have that with the tens.” 

Ross Byrne’s importance to Leinster has been obvious for years now and that isn’t diluted in any way now that his time with the club is coming to a close. He has already played more games and minutes (15 and 588) than any of Leinster’s other four tens.

Having a player of that calibre to run a team, and the week leading up to it, is very much a luxury during the Six Nations and others will need to stand up as of next season given Prendergast will continue to be absent during these Test windows for years to come.

The 22-year old Kildare man continues to start game after game for his country. His importance has, if anything, only increased having played all 80 minutes of the last two games, against Scotland and Wales.

Bleyendaal has been impressed, despite the imperfections.

“He is just showing that he is maturing fast. He is taking most of his opportunities and, like you said, it is not all smooth sailing for him. He has had to dig himself out of a few holes and face some adversity but he has a short memory.

“He goes back and he backs himself, backs what he sees. He has great ability to execute his skills as well so I’m delighted to see him get a good run around in Ireland camp. It’s all great development for him and he is learning things that he can transfer back to our game as well.” 

Leinster had 16 players involved in the Principality Stadium last Saturday and eight at Ashton Gate for the ‘A’ game the following day. Another half-dozen were on the sidelines in Cardiff due to injury or squad rotation.

Jack Boyle is back on club duty having made his debut off the bench in the Six Nations. Others back in blue ahead of Saturday’s URC game against Cardiff in the Aviva Stadium are Jimmy O’Brien and Tommy O’Brien.

Jamie Osborne was one of those brought back by Leo Cullen for the league game away to Ospreys two weekends ago but similar is unlikely this time after his 80 minutes at full-back against the Welsh. Bleyendaal was happy to see that, too.

“He is definitely a special talent. He is a great athlete, a really grounded and humble individual off the field as well, and he still has a lot of growth left in his game. He would be the first to admit that.

“He is really diligent and is always trying to improve but he is also very selfless. He doesn’t mind if he is put into the midfield, asked to play wing or starts at full-back. He is able to show his array of skills, a great kicking game and he is a big, physical man as well.

“Really impressed with how he is going, but also how he is always training to be better.”