No man more deserving.

Ulster scrumhalf John Cooney is set to directly benefit the knee injury Luke McGrath picked up in Leinster’s win over Scarlets yesterday afternoon.

Cooney has been in fantastic form this season, with the former Connacht man excelling at the northern province. Ulster’s results haven’t been great. But Cooney has been a shining light, after being brought in to replace the legendary Ruan Pienaar.

McGrath was replaced shortly after scoring Leinster’s third try in their 20-13 win yesterday. He’s set to have a scan today or tomorrow to assess the damage.

“Luke, with his knee, we’ll see,” Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said after the game.

“I’m not sure. He has a bag of ice on it but he is moving around ok. He will get it scanned. He was due to go back into camp but we will make some assessments on what is best for his recovery.”

Cooney probably would have preferred to have been called up in better circumstances. But either way he’ll be delighted with the call-up, and there’s no one in Ireland more deserving.

He probably won’t make the matchday squad for the Wales game, with Kieran Marmion in pole position to provide cover for Conor Murray. But the experience of being in Irish camp during the Six Nations will do him the world of good.