Ciaran Frawley was unexpectedly thrust into the limelight at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night, being introduced early on for Leinster after Ross Byrne sustained an injury against Munster.
The 25-year-old has rarely featured at out-half for the province in recent years, given the everpresence of Johnny Sexton and the backups of Ross and Harry Byrne to boot.
It's safe to say he impressed in Saturday's game, kicking three conversions and controlling the play as Leinster saw out a tense 21-16 victory over their provincial rivals.
The injury outlook for Ross Byrne is unclear but, if he is out for any meaningful amount of time, Frawley may see more time at ten - something which ex-Leinster star Andy Dunne believes could propel Frawley into contention to start for Ireland in next year's Six Nations.
However, both Dunne and former Leinster out-half Ian Madigan would express concern that Frawley is rarely played at out-half - something which may hurt his development down the line.
READ HERE: Eddie Jones Has Interesting Theory On 'Deceitful' Clive Woodward's Dislike For Him
Ex-Leinster stars big up Ciaran Frawley's future prospects
25 November 2023; Ciarán Frawley of Leinster kicks a conversion during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Munster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Speaking on Premier Sports post-match on Saturday evening, Andy Dunne said that he was tempted by a punt on Ciaran Frawley to start at least one game for Ireland in next year's Six Nations.
Dunne pointed out that head coach Andy Farrell was a fan of Frawley's, and said that he had done well when called upon for his country:
I'd throw a friendly €20 on that he might start a Six Nations game at ten in 2024. Farrell and Mike Catt rate him highly as a ten, they brought him to New Zealand on that famous tour a couple of summers ago and he started the Maori games and did really well as a ten.
Nonetheless, Dunne pointed out that Leinster's management of Frawley could ultimately end up holding him back.
Dunne, who played for Leinster across two spells either side of three years in the English Premiership, said that he feared Frawley would continue to be played across a multitude of positions, limiting his ability to become truly world-class in his strongest spot:
There's a danger that Leinster end up treating him a little bit like the Joey Carbery scenario and he falls between stools and doesn't get his set position.
But he's got all the hallmark traits of a good ten.
It's a bit of a gamble for him to say he wants to be considered as a ten only. What's keeping him in squads is his versatility. It's six of one, half a dozen of the other. If you become too versatile, you're not a specialist.
I think, to be a ten, you have to be a specialist - certainly in northern hemisphere-style rugby, we tend to have our ten as a fulcrum and a game manager. You need consistent game time, and chopping and changing between 10-12-15...may actually hinder his ceiling and progress,
Former Leinster out-half Ian Madigan would echo Dunne on both his praise of and concern for Ciaran Frawley.
Madigan pointed out that Frawley had been played out of position many times but, when given the opportunity, he had proven his capabilities as an out-half:
You can see when he's in possession...he's played a lot at 12 and 15. When he gets moving, he's got speed.
He started the game a small bit ropey and then built himself into it really quickly. This kick in particular was really impressive, pushing the scoreboard out to eight points. That was really, really important.
What's really interesting with Frawley is that he's covered 12, 15, and out-half. He's very versatile. You could say he's the perfect number 22 when Leinster are playing in Europe - but we saw tonight that this guy is a really, really good out-half.
Ciaran Frawley would certainly be a bolter if he were to make any of Andy Farrell's starting lineups next year but, with Ross Byrne looking like a potential injury lay-off, there may be time for the Leinster man to prove his credentials over the coming weeks.
SEE ALSO: French Ref Criticises Introduction Of New Law At Recent World Cup
