A former Munster, Leinster and Connacht player, Downey currently works as a Player Manager with Wasserman Rugby – a company that specialises in the management of world class rugby union and rugby league talent. One of Wasserman’s many clients, Tector spoke to Downey towards the end of the 2023/24 season and it was at this point that becoming a midfield option for Leinster was broached.

An out-half when the Ireland U20s won a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022, the Wexford native found that opportunities were limited in the number 10 jersey.

He eventually decided that he would try his hand at a new role in the eastern province and given last weekend’s clash with Cardiff saw him scoring his third try in five starts at inside centre (he also claimed a five-pointer when named at outside centre against Connacht last December), he is currently reaping the benefits of this move.

“He [Downey] has been a huge help. I met up with him coming to the end of my second year in the Academy. At the time there were so many 10s in Leinster and I hadn’t really thought about the 12 position,” Tector explained after Saturday’s game.

“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.

“I’m just delighted to be on the pitch. 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.”

Coming into this contest with 11 wins from as many games in this season’s URC, a Leinster side that was shorn of a whole host of international stars broke the deadlock when hooker John McKee applied the finishing touches to a line-out maul on 15 minutes. Ross Byrne knocked over the first of six successful conversions in the wake of this score, before their Welsh counterparts roared into contention either side of the first-quarter mark.

After full-back Cam Winnett released Harri Millard for a 17th minute try, Cardiff’s blindside flanker Thomas Young dotted down on the half-hour mark to move the visitors in front.

Yet there was enough time remaining in the opening period for Leinster to swing the pendulum back in their favour and they were back in business when Jack Boyle – returning to provincial fare after making his Ireland senior debut on the previous weekend – burst over on the left-wing for a stoppage-time try.

Another Byrne bonus strike offered Leinster a 14-12 interval cushion and with Max Deegan and Luke McGrath crossing over while Cardiff replacement Alex Mann was in the sin-bin, Leo Cullen’s men had a bonus point wrapped up by the 51st minute.

Tector got the try that his performance deserved just a few minutes later and even though five-pointers courtesy of Millard (his second) and Ellis Bevan meant Cardiff came away with a try bonus of their own, Rob Russell ensured Leinster had the final say when he squeezed over in the left-corner on 76 minutes.

Now 13 points clear at the summit of the URC, the eastern province will now have another mini break before travelling to South Africa for bouts against the Bulls and the Sharks on March 22 and 29 respectively.

Scorers for Leinster: Tries: J McKee, J Boyle, M Deegan, L McGrath, C Tector, R Russell Cons: R Byrne 6

Scorers for Cardiff: Tries: H Millard 2, T Young, E Bevan Cons: C Sheedy, T De Beer

LEINSTER: J O’Brien; T O’Brien (R Russell 61), H Cooney (L Turner 77), C Tector, A Osborne; R Byrne, L McGrath (O Coffey 70); J Boyle (I Soroka 70), J McKee (S Smyth 57), R Slimani (R McGuire 70); D Mangan (RG Snyman h-t), B Deeny; A Soroka, W Connors (S Penny 63), M Deegan.

CARDIFF: C Winnett (T De Beer 41-52); G Hamer-Webb, R Lee-Lo, R Jennings, H Millard (R Grace 63); C Sheedy (T De Beer 70), J Mulder (E Bevan 63); D Southworth (R Barratt 52-61), L Belcher (E Daniel 65), R Litterick (W Davies-King 52); J McNally (A Mann 33), R Thornton; B Donnell (S Davies 63), T Young, A Lawrence.

Referee: A Piardi (FIR).