Bernard Jackman believes Leinster will have real regrets over the way they "mismanaged" Ciarán Frawley's gametime at out-half in recent seasons.
The 28-year-old is set to depart the province for Connacht at the end of the season, confirming in recent days that his main reason for leaving is the desire for more game time at his preferred out-half position.
The versatile back has struggled to nail down a specific role for Leinster in recent seasons, moving between full-back, centre and occasionally out-half, although his last start in the 10 jersey was more than a year ago, in April 2025.
The Skerries man was brought on early in Saturday's Investec Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles, where Leinster trailed 35-7 at the time, and while he couldn't provide a miracle comeback, he did make the URC champions a far more threatening attacking force.
Head coach Leo Cullen was asked after Saturday's defeat of he had any regrets around how Frawley’s departure played out, and the Leinster boss said they had wanted him to stay.
Speaking on this week’s RTÉ Rugby podcast, Jackman said the best way to keep Frawley at Leinster would have been to trust him in his natural position.
"I think Leinster and Leo think that they were harshly treated by the IRFU, Connacht taking Frawley, but the reality is Frawley's been unbelievably patient," Jackman said.
"Bordeaux effectively have three half times to be able to get the group together and give the messages..."
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🎙️ @bernardjackman on a couple of areas where Leinster could learn from Bordeaux-Begles 🏉
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"In actual fact, he's probably been too patient. He's probably missed two or three years where he could have been in the picture competing with Jack Crowley as a 10.
"When Leo looks back in his career as a coach, I think the Jordie Barrett semi-final [against Northampton Saints in 2025] would always be there. People would always remember that, but I think he'll have to question and admit that with Frawley, they mismanaged him as a 10."
While Frawley started the season as third-choice out-half behind Sam Prendergast and Harry Byrne, the Ireland international was picked ahead of Prendergast in Saturday’s matchday squad, while Byrne struggled to make an impact in the decider, and was replaced after just 43 minutes.
"It was obvious [improvement] from the first time he touched the ball on Saturday when he came on," Jackman added.
"And this isn't a surprise. I mean, this has been pretty obvious, the little bits we get to see of him.
"I actually thought maybe there was a chance that despite all the evidence, that they would have started him on, I wasn't as sure that Harry was nailed on as much as everyone else thought he was.
"I thought because of conservatism, they would go with Harry, but I thought Frawley had made a big push off the bench because Leinster looked so much better with him. He's more of a threat to the line and he's obviously a bit more physical.
"I can't put any blame on Frawley. I think he's been incredibly loyal. It's all well and good Leinster saying they want to keep him, but the proof in the pudding is in his gametime.
"Not starting a game at 10 for over a year doesn't lead you to believe that they think he's the 10. And he's fed up being a utility player. So he just wants a chance.
"And Leinster could be saying, 'we've waited so long to find a successor to Johnny and potentially he was already there and he's gone’."
Cullen is due to name his team tomorrow for Saturday’s URC quarter-final with the Lions at Aviva Stadium (8pm).
And former Exeter Chiefs out-half Gareth Steenson believes Frawley’s impact in Bilbao should be rewarded with the starting job for this week at least.
"It'd be good for the squad, maybe just to have a little bit of lease of life after what happened last week," the Ireland Women’s assistant coach said on the podcast.
"You obviously want to be developing players and you want to be thinking about going forward, but the way things are now that there's a real sort of cry out Frawley to play.
"And I think the way he plays the game, he'd probably have a point to prove to finish the season off as well. He'd want to probably finish it strong.
"He'd want to win a trophy as well. And if you're picking basically on form and you're actually taking all emotion and everything out of the whole thing, and the fact that people are moving on, you want the best players in the field, then he probably does get the opportunity to play this week. And I think that's probably something that is good for him.
"And I actually think that the move to Connacht is good for everyone. It's good for Irish rugby. It's good for him.
"He can actually go and get his teeth into a team. He can go across there and challenge with Josh Ioane and just go after that position and actually make a team his own a little bit.
"And we'll actually get to learn a heck of a lot more about what Ciarán Frawley's about."
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