"He knows the club itself. He's been through the ranks, whether it's through the academy system, the A's. I'd say he worked with Felipe a lot back in the day, and he knows what Leinster is about. "

Ireland and Lions star Hugo Keenan has give the thumbs-up to Leinster's choosing Noel McNamara to suceed Leo Cullen.

The Blues full-back has had a long working relationship with the incoming coach, at UCD, in the Leinster Academy, at AIL, Ireland Sevens and Leinster 'A'

"I think it's great news. I've got a good relationship with him, " said the full-back. "I would have worked with them in the past, both at UCD originally.

"He was the head coach there when I was playing AIL, when was I sort of between the Academy and Sevens and playing AIL rugby, and then dealt with them as well for the ‘A’ team in Leinster, and know him well.

“Obviously that was a couple of years ago, and he's progressed so well since. We know what he's achieved at Bordeaux and been on the better side of a few results than us recently.

"So it's an exciting appointment. It's good to have, yeah, good to have him on board, and I think that's the general feedback amongst the amongst the squad.”

There is Leinster DNA but it has been added to by McNamara spnding time with the Sharks and with Bordeaux.

“I'm sure he's got a different perspective of things, getting out of the building, going down to South Africa, challenging himself down there, and then going so well and thriving at Bordeaux.

"And you see what their backline and attacks have been producing. I suppose that's his fingerprint on it, and yeah, excited to see what he has and to work with him.

"So yeah, it's positive for me and everyone, and for Linster so it's obviously big boots to fill with Leo, and there were lots of candidates in the mix as well."

There are a lot of sign pointing towards this being a perfect fit for Leinster.

“I suppose he knows the club itself. He's been through the ranks, whether it's through the academy system, the A's. I'd say he worked with Felipe a lot back in the day, and he knows what Leinster is about.

"But he's also gone off, and I'd like to think he's got an ability to grow the club now and grow the way we play while keeping how we like to play and the Leinster identity as well.

“So that's important. His man management and his presence in a room: I still remember it from the get-go, from when he was a head coach back in the day, how well he speaks, and I'm sure that's the same again.

"And then we have talked about the technical points on the backs and the attack that he can bring as well. So yeah, it's exciting.”