The recent Junior World Cup was a tough one for Ireland, who failed to overcome a daunting and physically imposing group.  But with five tries to his name, young Leinster starlet Andrew Conway finished among the highest try scorers and served notice of his considerable talent. 

It’s great news after a frustrating few months for Conway.  He went quickly from Blackrock College to a full-time Leinster contract (inviting comparisons with LukeFitz), and in a brilliant six-minute debut against the Scarlets he broke the line down the wing, before giving a try-scoring pass to Jonny Sexton, and threw in a try-saving tackle at the other end.  Last summer, some had even mentioned him as a possible World Cup bolter, but this year he only managed six Magners League starts, scoring three tries, before ending his season by picking up an injury against Treviso in february.  In truth he often looked a touch light, and was frequently upstaged by the increasingly impressive David Kearney.

A fleet-footed full-back-cum-winger with a penchant for playing with his socks around his ankles, Conway looks a natural finisher and a great broken field runner.  But he finds himself at the back of a busy queue at Leinster.  However, this season should offer him a good chance to get plenty of Magners League gametime.  Big Kearney, Luke and possibly McFadden will be on RWC duty, and Shaggy still has to overcome his injury, so for the first few ML games Leinster’s back-three options could consist of Little Kearney, Iosa, Fionn Carr and Conway, so there should be no shortage of opportunities to do some damage.  If he can give himself a good headstart on the World Cup players, a big season could be in store.