Bernard Jackman, a former Connacht, Leinster, and Ireland hooker, offers his expert analysis on Rieko Ioane's performance during his time at Leinster. Jackman highlights the challenging position Ioane found himself in, replacing the highly successful Jordie Barrett. He emphasizes the impact Barrett had on Leinster, describing him as one of the best foreign players and a key factor in their URC victory. Jackman acknowledges Ioane's struggles, attributing them to a dip in form and a lack of top physical condition upon arrival. However, he notes recent improvements, praising Ioane's increased physicality and confidence, especially in the last three weeks. Jackman predicts Ioane's involvement in the Investec Champions Cup final against Bordeaux, suggesting he will be crucial to Leinster's success. He believes Ioane's best position is on the wing, citing his physicality and ability to win collisions, while also acknowledging his distribution issues at center. Jackman concludes by emphasizing the importance of Ioane's performance in the upcoming final, where he expects a shootout between Ioane and James Lowe for a starting role.
