Yeah there's buckets of talent emerging. It's a credit to Michael Cheika for ramping up the academy after it had been neglected for too long and giving kids a chance and also to Joe Schmidt who's empowering his players to improve their skill sets. For example, Sean O'Brien, Fergus McFadden, Richardt Strauss, Dominic Ryan and Eoin O'Malley have improved out of sight since last summer and aren't afraid to try things. For all Michael Cheika's strengths as a coach, he had Leinster playing to a rigid game plan and flair players were curtainled to some degree.
Having rewatched the game, I'm hugely impressed with how Fergus McFadden adapted to the wing. His huge boot can relieve pressure in the 22 with defensive kicks, he's not afraid to go looking for work and get involved and his tendency to stick the ball under one arm doesn't matter as much when he plays wider out. It's an option worth pursuing long term given Shane Horgan's advancing years and the amount of talented outside centres on Leinster's books (O'Malley, Brendan Macken, Alex Kelly). McFadden will play left wing against Clermont Auvergne next week.
