The pressure of coaching is horrific at times and despite having had a third quarter that was as good as Leinster had played this season, they were a try away from losing.
Aston Villa, alongside European semi-finalists Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, are pushing to sign the Scottish teenager as a free agent. Multiple English clubs have already entered formal discussions with Rice's representatives, presenting detailed pathways designed to accelerate his transition into senior first-team football.
Brendon McCullum has decided this is the perfect moment to be absent, thereby missing the opening 54 matches of the County Championship, or 43% of the first-class season.