COME TO' THE BOIL

Brillian O'Brien shows class again for Blues

- DEREK FOLEY

THE feeling Tommy O'Brien has made himself not just irreplaceable on the Leinster team but on the Ireland one too is hard to shake.

Saturday was his sixth 2025/26 start for his province, four URC and two Champions Cup games his brace bringing his total to four tries.

O'Brien was one of just four Ireland players who started all four November series games, the other three Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan and Ryan Baird were in the forwards.

That's quite an achievement considering he only made his international debut the previous July touring Georgia and Portugal with the Lionsless Ireland squad.

Saturday's graft against Connacht was just another typical return from the 27 year-old, his try first coming from the right-wing to get on a Sam Prendrgast offload, straighten up and shrug off two defenders.