Keith Wood feels Leinster have used Sean O'Brien better than Ireland have in recent times.
The former Ireland captain was impressed with the back row's performance as Leinster defeated Wasps to reach the European Champions Cup semi final.
Reflecting on the positives from the game with Off The Ball, Wood began by praising the impact of talented youngster Joey Carbery at full back.
"The additional threat that they have by having Carbery at 15, the sharing of the burden with his No 10 - and you know I've said this before for two or three years, too much goes through Johnny Sexton and it's wearying on him and he's targeted all the time as well - and suddenly Carbery slots in there very comfortably and it's actually a better feel, a better balance and they looked sharper for it," said Wood.
"And I loved seeing Sean O'Brien taking passes a step out. Not being a one-out carrier, not standing trying to barge people out of the way. He can do it but he's better than that and we should be using him better than that and Leinster, I feel, have used him better than Ireland have.
"I thought a lot of players put their hands up. Tadhg Furlong, from a guy on the periphery who was just getting his chance, I think Leinster have managed him quite well actually. At 24 years of age to put in the performances he's put in during the Six Nations, where I thought he was fantastic, to then going and playing in a European quarter final where it looked easy for him, that's a great credit to him."
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