Leinster’s Monday-morning injury update is typically a cryptic tome but yesterday’s was notable for how clearly it stated that Luke McGrath would not play against Benetton this Saturday, despite his placement in the “being assessed” section. This, as much as anything else, before next weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final against Scarlets, highlighted the scrum half’s place of importance in Leo Cullen’s squad. The 25-year-old made his debut in May 2012 but has made the No 9 shirt his own in the past two years, despite the recruitment of Jamison Gibson-Park, the Kiwi scrum half. Six Ireland caps have come with his provincial promotion, and though none arrived this year, he was on the bench in Paris for the Six Nations opener in February. Kieran Marmion appears…

Source: The Times April 09, 2018 23:03 UTC