Charlie Tector isn't under any illusion that training sessions with Leinster are better for his development than pulling on a starting jersey.
The 22-year-old Wexford man eschews the party line that training under the likes of Leo Cullen, a multiple Champions Cup winner, double World Cup-winning coach Jacques Nienaber, and competing with the best Ireland backs, is as good as fronting up in competitive action, either with Leinster or Lansdowne.
An ever-present out-half when Ireland won an Under-20 Grand Slam in 2022, Tector has been pushed out to first centre for the majority of his 16-cap provincial career.
The names of the frontliners - Sam Prendergast, Ciarán Frawley, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett and Robbie Henshaw, ahead in the pecking order across the 10-12 slots suggest he's well advised to adapt to his given circumstances.
"Look, I'm just delighted to be on the pitch," said Tector after delivering a man of the match performance as Leinster extended their winning run to 12 in the BKT URC with victory over Cardiff on Saturday.
"I know 12 is one out from 10, it's just another pair of eyes, another pair of hands feeding the same information in. I am loving it at the minute, thank God.
"I think you have to get game time. Because if you don’t, you come into these games and you don’t feel sharp.
"You can’t get the same out of a training session as a game. It’s a different step up.
"I was covering 10 today. I am always getting reps at 10, keeping my eye sharp. I play 10 at Lansdowne [in the AIL] so I am well sharpened in that area.
"Centre is a bit more physical than 10. I probably had to step it up to move from 10 into the centre. I have put on a bit of size and I'm happy with the way I am going at the moment.
"[Former Clontarf, Leinster and Ireland centre James Downey] has been a huge help. I met up with him coming to the end of my senior year in the academy.
"At the time there were so many 10s in Leinster and I hadn’t really thought about the 12 position.
"We sat down and we said, 'right, you cover 10 and you cover 12. You’re going into your third year in the academy now, just give it a good go’. That's what we did and thankfully it paid off."
Leinster beat Cardiff 42-24 to secure their 12th win in a row in the championship with Tector (above) scoring their fifth after a fine run in the second half.
He made 93 metres off nine successful carries during the game.
"We had a lot of chances in the 22, breakdown turnovers, our own mistakes," he said.
"I think we did a lot of work on that in the first half that set us up for that second half.
"We came out of the dressing room firing and got one or two tries. That work was done in the first half."
Leinster remain top of the standings, 13 points clear of Glasgow, who lost 32-31 at home to Ospreys, and are next in action against Bulls and Sharks.
