‘He’s fearless. He looks like what Sean O’Brien was 10 years ago’

Former Leinster captain Kevin McLaughlin has compared Ireland flanker Dan Leavy to what Sean O'Brien was like when he first started playing for the province in 2008.

O'Brien broke into the Leinster first team a decade ago and quickly earned a reputation for being one of the most promising forwards in European rugby. By 2011, he had won a Heineken Cup with Leinster and was voted the ERC European Player of the Year, but his first few years are quite similar to what we're now seeing from Dan Leavy, at least according to McLaughlin. "He honestly looks like Sean O'Brien did 10 years ago," said McLaughlin on the latest episode of The Hard Yards. "That kind of fearless, goes out there, does his job player that plays with a smile on his face which I like. He always seems to be enjoying himself, never seems to be under pressure and he just goes out and does it. "What really impressed me about him is his consistency. He never really makes mistakes and he has about four or five big moments a game, consistently, and just seems to be relishing the game. "He also has a great balance with the other two guys [CJ Stander and Peter O'Mahony]. "CJ is carrying like 20-25 times a game, Pete and Dan are carrying a bit but those guys are getting through so much work at the breakdown. It's great to watch." The Leinster openside was keen to highlight after the Scotland win that Ireland spoiled England's Grand Slam party last year and that Eddie Jones' side would look to do the same to his team this weekend. "We said as a group that we wanted to do something special and we have an opportunity to do that this week. "Last year England came over to us and we tried to muddy up their celebrations and they'll be looking to do the same to us so we have to be prepared."