The Leinster coach was wideeyed as he attempted to put into context some of the things his 19-year-old fullback had done against Llanelli and, his press duties fulfilled, he left with a smile across his face. You see, Fitzgerald is one of the few players who can do that to you. Whether you're a journalist in the press box, a supporter on the terraces, or a coach raging at a refereeing performance, the former Blackrock College full-back can distract you from all that went on and have you leaving any game with memories of a flicked pass, a mazy run or a side-step that appears to be undertaken in slow motion.

Today the international rugby world will catch their first glimpse of Fitzgerald and anybody who's brave, or stupid, enough to forgo the Sunday family outing to watch Ireland against the Pacific Islands could be in for a treat. You'd have to imagine Eddie O'Sullivan had to have a good think about throwing a still physically developing teenager into a match against the world's biggest hitters, but maybe he's as wowed by Fitzgerald's many abilities as the rest of us. The coach stated during the week that he was impressed by the player from the very first time he saw him for Ireland Schools 18 months ago, and if anything his star had been peeping up over the horizon for a year or two before that. Anyone with even a passing interest in Leinster Schools rugby would have known about Fitzgerald since he made his Senior Cup debut for Blackrock in 2004. "If there was a friendly or a practice match on after school, " says one former student, "double the crowd would hang around to watch it if Luke was playing.

Everybody knew he was a special player and lads would go out of their way after school to watch him play."

At Senior Cup level he won two Leinster titles as a centre in 2004 and full-back last March, and there's still some debate as to which position suited him more. At centre, he was initially able to carve teams open on his own, but when defences started to double-team him, Fitzgerald's influence started to wane. At full-back, his lines of running weren't obstructed that easily but it proved more difficult to get him into the game on a regular basis. While he's on the wing today, and has flitted between the flank and fullback in his nine Leinster appearances, there's a sense he'll re-emerge as a centre in the coming years.

All this movement between positions has seen his extreme dedication come to the fore. "What people don't see is the work he puts in on the training ground, " says his Leinster and Irish colleague Brian O'Driscoll. "When you have that much talent it might be easy to let things go a little but Luke is always the first into and last out of training." Another member of the Leinster background team also highlights his enthusiasm for training. "He's always staying behind to do a bit extra. He's like the energiser bunny. He's just what you'd imagine a talented 19year-old to be. Hungry for the ball, hungry for work."

Even before he left school, there was a brief tug of war for his services. Word is that Declan Kidney tried to entice him down to Munster with the promise of a full-time contract as opposed to the academy deal he was expected to get with Leinster, but Michael Cheika and David Knox weren't too long in fastening on to Fitzgerald's potential and parachuting him straight into the Leinster senior squad. There was a brief controversy, too, when he decided not to travel with the Ireland under-19 team to the World Cup in Dubai in order to concentrate on his Leaving Cert, but if that proved anything, he has a shrewd head on young shoulders.

Underpinning all of this is the influence of his father Des, the former Lansdowne and Ireland prop. Fitzgerald Snr has been shielding his son from the media over the past 12 months, and all requests for a one-on-one interview with Irish rugby's youngest prospect in advance of his debut this afternoon have been turned down. You can expect the 34-times capped prop to be a major influence at his son's side over the coming years but in saying that, the fluent Irish-speaking, Dublin football-supporting teen is very much his own person.

One of his contributions in a radio interview during the week spoke volumes for his moral fibre. "There's great support there at Leinster, the conditioning guys, Brad Harrington and Emmet Farrell, fellas like that. You'd be very little without the guys that aren't seen and I'd like to thank them."

Many a Leinster fan wouldn't know who they are, but while the spotlight has been shining directly upon him, Fitzgerald has been more interested in thanking others. While his ability to cut it at rugby's top table will be tested today, his character already appears unquestionable.