'It's time to deliver now' - Leo Cullen challenges out-half Harry Byrne

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has challenged Harry Byrne to grasp his opportunity at out-half in Sunday's Investec Champions Cup rematch against defending champions La Rochelle.

With first-choice Ross Byrne out injured until the new year, younger brother Harry has been handed the keys to the Leinster backline, preferred in the 10 shirt to Ciarán Frawley who is on the bench.

The 24-year-old has played more than 50 times for his province and has won two Test caps for Ireland, but with Johnny Sexton now retired, Sunday's trip to La Rochelle has the potential to be a coming of age game for the out-half, who has had to endure a stop-start career at times.

Cullen has been known to publicly play down the importance of individual games for players, but in a break from tradition the head coach agreed that a Champions Cup tie away to the defending champions of France is the perfect time for Byrne to seize the moment.

"It's time to deliver now," Cullen (below) said of his out-half.

"He's such a talented player, Harry, you see. This is a huge step now. That's the thing, the players just need to take the step. What a way to do it, away in France.

"He came off the bench a couple of years ago away to Montpellier, you could see the talent that's there. This time, he gets to run out and start and we'll see how the game unfolds.

"He's been growing year on year, he's learning from some of the players who have been there and Johnny [Sexton] in particular who has been in the driving seat for so long."

Byrne had been hailed as the heir-apparent to Johnny Sexton when he starred for the Ireland U20s in their Six Nations win in 2019, but a run of frustrating injuries, and a congested timeshare at out-half means he has struggled to get a consistent run