Competition hotting up in engine-room – Toner

DEVIN TONER believes that the competition for places in Leinster’s second-row is as good as it has been for some time and that it is bringing the best out in players.

The Ireland international is one of the first names on Leo Cullen’s team sheet but there are plenty of players battling it out to partner Toner in the engine-room.

Hayden Triggs’ arrival brought plenty of experience while so too has Mike McCarthy’s return from a nasty heady injury.

Ian Nagle’s early season form has been promising as he seeks a return to the level of performance that once saw him heralded as Munster’s next bright second-row hope.

Speaking of which, James Ryan is still waiting in the wings to be unleashed, while Ross Molony and Mick Kearney have both impressed when given the opportunity.

In Toner’s eyes, it all bodes well for the future, even if some players are naturally disappointed to be left out on certain weeks.

“There are a lot of young lads coming up, there is a lot of talent and there is a lot of competition for spaces,” Toner said.

“Like Mick (Kearney) playing for the A’s, he obviously wasn’t happy to be playing for the A’s.

“He has been a great leader of the team so far this year and he is obviously bitterly disappointed not to be involved, and there are going to be other lads who are disappointed not to be involved this weekend, but I think we are in a good place.

“James Ryan has played for the A’s. He is a hugely talented player and he will be getting a shot soon enough, and you see who is ahead of him.

“Ross is playing really well, he had a huge season last year and he is a really good player. And you have Nages coming in. He is a really, really good player and did well at the weekend.

“Hopefully I will keep playing for a couple of years so it is a really, really good place.”

Toner also praised Nagle’s attitude since he joined Leinster over the summer.

IMPRESSED

The former Munster player spent a few years out of the professional environment but Toner has been hugely impressed by what he has seen from his new team-mate in the early part of the season.

“He is an interesting man, he has a lot of good stories,” Toner said.

“He was in the Congo or some jungle down in South America so he has a lot of good stories. He is a very interesting man, how he left and he came back into it.

“It shows a hugely determined player, it shows a talented player to be able to go and come back and do it.

“But he has kept himself in really good nick and he showed at the weekend that he is able to do it so more power to him.”