HEINEKEN CUP LEINSTER v WASPS:DEVIN TONER'S height tends to follow him around. At 6ft 10in, the Leinster secondrow has already been defined by his physique, as the tallest player in Irish rugby. His challenge now is to be redefined by his contribution to Leinster and this season that project would appear to be a so-far-so-good work in progress, writes Johnny Watterson

There were not that many convinced that Toner, as a stringy schoolboy at Castleknock College, would evolve into the regular Leinster player he has now become with such speed. His lineout ability has never been in question and is still at the heart of his game but the 22-year-old's general play has taken a quantum leap since he began his second year on a full contract.

Last year was his first, and the year before Leinster saw enough to put him on a development deal.

More recently, an injury to Malcolm O'Kelly has given Toner more of a look-in, and the match in Murrayfield against Edinburgh last weekend was his Heineken Cup debut. But it would be inaccurate to suggest O'Kelly's injury is the only reason for the Meathman's promotion into the mainstream.

The province sees more potential and the physical side is developing; eight kilos heavier, Toner is coming on nicely.

"Particularly this year, that was one of my goals, to try and fill out," he says. "I worked hard on that over the summer. When I was 18 or 19 I was a bit gangly, so I was just trying to get the weight on. My strength has gone up this year as well and I find that it has helped my game a lot.

"I've found that I can stay up more and feel like I'm getting into the games more. Last year and the year before, I had a game here and a game there, but this year has been different. I'm feeling better and stronger. The first couple of matches were tough.

"I wouldn't say it (the standard) was out of my reach. I was trying to find my feet, get used to it. You need a match every week to get used to it - not just a match here and a match there."

He made his Leinster debut at the age of 20 and fell into the orbit of Leo Cullen and O'Kelly, the most-capped Ireland player. To be able to feed off their experience was the stuff of providence and in his third year he is still learning the tricks.

"I'm loving it. I'm really enjoying it," he says. "I love playing the game. I love all of it, really. Just coming in here today, having a great camaraderie with the lads, playing in front of the crowd, getting recognition. It's all just great.

"I was pretty pleased with my performance last week. The game was a step up from the Magners and for me it was a big step up. I was puffing a bit for the first 15 or 20 minutes and took time to get into it before I got my second wind. The speed of the game was a lot quicker and because of the ELVs the ball is in play a lot more. There is also the physicality aspect. It was the toughest game I've ever played."

When he was growing up in Moynalvy, the accomplished pianist wasn't hugely interested in rugby. It was only when he went to secondary school, having moved close to Kilcock, that the bug bit. He is now in UCD (but Lansdowne-registered) finishing a sports-management degree, and his career has accelerated.

Depending on O'Kelly's fitness and coach Michael Cheika's pick, this week he could face the Wasps lock Simon Shaw across the gain line. Shaw's reputation as a tough operator precedes him.

"He's a great player. Obviously if I get a chance I'll do my best," says Toner modestly. "I feel now I've come on from previous years. Every opposition has been tough and I'm looking forward to it."

Last week the lineout misfired in the first half. There were reasons and Leinster have spoken about them and identified them.

Physicality at ruck time was also a problem but in these Heineken Cup foothills the result is often more important than the players' regular mantra of performance, performance, performance. Last week was a case in point.

"We didn't really dominate them as we should have. But it was great to finish off like we did," he says. "We are all really clear on what we can and what we can't do. It's all really interpretation."

Toner has 18 caps for Leinster, last week's game against Edinburgh being his one Heineken Cup appearance in two seasons. This season he missed the Magners League game against Munster in the RDS but played in all the others.

Cheika said yesterday Toner is starting to learn how to use his frame, that he knows if he dips in form there is no track record there to back him up and there are other guys waiting behind him looking for a chance. Cheika reckons he's a confident player and that down the road and with improvements, Leinster would like to think of him as capable of playing at a higher level.

Large strides have been taken, then, in more ways than one.