Stylish Smyth makes big impression as youthful Leinster suffer surprise defeat to Cardiff

Carlow's Stephen Smyth came off the bench at half time to put in an impressive performance for Leinster in this afternoon's surprise defeat to Cardiff, as the Welsh side ran in five tries to win 31-10. 

Having made his debut for the province less than a year ago, Smyth has embedded himself into the squad in a position of real strength for the blues. 

Playing at hooker is no easy feat for Leinster, and Smyth finds himself behind world-class operators Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, an emerging talent on the international stage in Gus McCarthy, and the captain for today's game against Cardiff, John McKee.

It was McKee who made way for Smyth at the interval, leaving big shoes to fill for the former Askea GAA man; but Smyth is a formidable athlete and made his presence felt in the second half. 

The young hooker was a bright spark for Leinster, particularly in the third quarter when the hosts had their tails up. His arrows were good in the line-out, he scrummaged well and he imposed himself with some big collisions in open play. 

Once upon a time, Smyth played football for Hanover Harps and he would have been especially keen to get on the field for the pre-season friendly which was played at Dublin's Tallaght Stadium, home of League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers. 

He combined his football skills with Irish hooker lore when the 21-year-old produced a Keith Wood-esque kick/chase not long after coming on. 

With so many Leinster stars making the slow recovery from their exploits in Australia with the British and Irish Lions, this early part of the season provides a major opportunity for the fringe players in the squad to put their hands up for selection later in the year. 

A youthful Leinster side were simply outclassed by a much more experienced Cardiff outfit today, but Cullen and his coaching staff will take plenty of positives from today's performance. 

Leinster begin the defence of their United Rugby Championship title with a trip to South Africa to take on 2022 champions the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, September 26.

They travel Pretoria the following week to play the side they beat in last year's final, the Bulls, in Loftus Versfeld.

Leinster's first home game of the campaign will also be against South African opposition when they welcome the Sharks to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, October 11.

Then comes the first Irish derby of the season when Leinster face Munster in a mouthwatering clash at Croke Park on Saturday, October 18.