Moore still living his Leinster dream

The 23-year-old played 28 games last season for Leinster in his breakthrough year and five for Ireland, but has been restricted to just five so far this term after toe and shoulder surgery.

But after a run of three starts in the side, including facing up to the intimidating front rows of Cardiff Blues and Castres, Moore admits every time he gets to pull on the blue No.3 jersey the excited 12-year-old in him comes alive.

"I was coming home from training one day with my granny in her car and said something along the lines of: 'If I don't play for Leinster, I'll basically be a failure,'" he told the Irish Times.

"I was having this life-changing epiphany in her car, coming home, at 12 years old. So yes, at 12 or 13, my goal was to play rugby with Leinster.

"Coming back into the side has gone well. No matter how much you train, it is something that you don't know which way it's going to go.

"It's just a matter of getting in there and doing it, and against lads like Adam Jones and (Gethin) Jenkins it's always a good test."

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