Leinster's Jimmy O'Brien feeling fresh as he looks for late impression

Jimmy O'Brien is a great recent example of how there's never a good time to lose your place in the queue.

Back in December, the Leinster utility back would have been considered first choice in the right wing for his province, and next cab off the rank for Ireland in the event that one of Mack Hansen or James Lowe was unavailable.

Indeed, back in January when news came in that Hansen would miss the Guinness Six Nations due to a dislocated shoulder, it was assumed that the Kildare man would step into the 14 shirt for the championship, having impressed off the bench for Ireland at the World Cup in October.

That assumption lasted roughly two hours, with Leinster confirming the 27-year-old had suffered a neck injury, which would rule him out indefinitely.

O'Brien spent just over four-and-a-half months rehabbing his neck injury, returning off the bench in the Champions Cup semi-final win over Northampton Saints, before starting Saturday's BKT URC win against the Ospreys, scoring a try and being named player of the match in the 61-14 victory.

His performance on the left wing gives Leo Cullen food for thought ahead of the Champions Cup final, as well as Andy Farrell for this summer's tour of South Africa.

The trouble for O'Brien is that while he was laid up, others were making hay.

Jordan Larmour (above) has wrestled possession of O'Brien's usual 14 jersey with Leinster, and a hat-trick on Saturday means he's not likely to give that up any time soon. From a national point of view, Calvin Nash fitted seamlessly into the Irish starting team.

Cullen has insisted that he's keeping an open mind around selection for the meeting with Toulouse in just under two weeks time, and O'Brien's versatility means he is in with a shout of being involved