Willie Le Roux is the perfect 15 admits Ireland star
SPOTLIGHT: Jordan Larmour has hailed Willie le Roux as a player who “ticks all the boxes as a 15” as the two international fullbacks prepare to meet this weekend.
Larmour’s Leinster will host Le Roux’s Bulls in a mouth-watering United Rugby Championship top-of-the-table clash at the Lansdowne Road.
Both players will go into Friday night’s much-anticipated Dublin showdown in fine fettle.
Larmour’s last outing saw him share in Ireland’s Six Nations title-clinching victory over Scotland, as he made his first start for his country in three years.
As for Springboks star Le Roux, he produced a Player of the Match performance in the Bulls’ victory over Dragons at Rodney Parade on the weekend.
Giving his thoughts on the two-time South African World Cup winner, Larmour said: “He is an incredible player. He kind of ticks all the boxes as a 15.
“He’s someone I looked up to when I was growing up, watching Ireland and the British and Irish Lions play South Africa.
“He’s unbelievable in attack, a great defender, great under the high ball. He has all those attributes as a great 15.
“So if I get the chance to play against him this weekend, it will be really cool. He’s definitely a player I look up to.”
Having returned to the international arena as a replacement versus Italy last month, Larmour was then handed the Ireland No.15 jersey for the decisive final game of the Six Nations against Scotland following the late withdrawal of Hugo Keenan.
“I got the nod late, but I kind of knew in the back of my head I could have a chance because Hugo was carrying a small knock,” said the 26-year-old.
“Then when I got the call, I didn’t really have time to think about anything, I was just straight in. The warm-up was just about to get under way.
“Andy Farrell just said to go out and back yourself and do your thing and fully commit to it, so that’s what I tried to do.
“It was a great week to be a part of and a good way to finish it off.
“I still have ambitions to play for Ireland. Coming off the bench against Italy, it was good to get that taste for international rugby again after three years, so I just wanted to get more.
“Getting to start a game and finish how we did was very special.”
Now it’s back to domestic duties with league leaders Leinster as the second-placed Bulls loom on the horizon.
“There’s a real buzz in the camp,” said the Dublin-born Larmour.
“We have watched a good bit of the Bulls and they have attacking threats all over the field.
“Then, in defence, they bring a lot of line speed and come hard. They compete hard at the breakdown trying to slow the ruck down. So it’s going to be a proper Test for us.
“But it’s one that hugely excites you. It’s first playing second, there’s not too many points between us. It will be a huge match.”
Giving a sense of what kind of occasion it will be in Dublin, he added:
“Any game I have played there on a Friday night under the lights, the place has been rocking.
“Everyone comes out. It’s a special place to play when it’s sold out, with all the fans cheering us on. It’s just a great buzz, so I’m looking forward to that.”
#ICYMI: Leinster are the benchmark for Bulls says Jake White 👇#URC #Leinster #Bulls https://t.co/T0YJpO7efX
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) March 26, 2024
