Brendan O'Brien

The Ireland international blazed a trail in America - and he wants to help the next generation make the leap. The Ireland international blazed a trail in America - and he wants to help the next generation make the leap.

The Ireland international blazed a trail stateside as a high school prospect.

Edge. Bite. Slog. These are the words McCarthy produces when looking ahead to the weekend. There's no menace in the delivery. They are just statements of fact and he'll be ready for the bit of expected lip that comes with it too. Edge. Bite. Slog. These are the words McCarthy produces when looking ahead to the weekend. There's no menace in the delivery. They are just statements of fact and he'll be ready for the bit of expected lip that comes with it too.

Furlong hasn’t played since mid-October when he faced Munster at Croke Park.

The sides face off in France on Sunday.

An element of edge has run through it like a stick of rock regardless of personnel.

The win leaves Leinster in pole position to top their pool and claim home advantage through the tournament knockout stages.

This 16-14 loss all but guarantees a path away from home come the quarter and semi-final stages of this latest tournament. That was the “big carrot” to winning here. There is nothing for it now but to press on. This 16-14 loss all but guarantees a path away from home come the quarter and semi-final stages of this latest tournament. That was the “big carrot” to winning here. There is nothing for it now but to press on.

This win makes it three in succession for the Irish province against a club that had their number in the 2021 semi-final and in the two deciders that followed.

The French side's intense Investec Champions Cup pool loss to Leinster on Sunday will have ramifications for the path they need to take for any third title.