Is it any wonder the structure of the professional game in Ireland is the envy of so many of our international counterparts at present?

We were barely beyond the final rounds of the Champions Cup before the mind games — with Eddie Jones as always to the fore — at the Six Nations launch in London last week reminded us that the main course is about to land in our laps pretty soon, writes Donal Lenihan.

The Champions Cup may be heading into a brief period of hibernation but not even the prospect of one of the most competitive Six Nations championships for some time will dampen the enthusiasm for the tournament’s return in April, writes Donal Lenihan.

And then there was eight, writes Donal Lenihan. 

The European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) officials, including board chairman and former England international Simon Halliday, congregated in the tunnel outside the palatial dressing rooms at the U Arena and had every reason to be pleased with themselves.

The positive spin on all things Irish rugby continued unabated this weekend with all three Irish provinces sitting pretty on top of their respective Champions Cup pools heading into the final week of action, despite the fact that Munster came up just short in a captivating game against Racing 92 in Paris.

Racing’s vast resources are best illustrated by the options available to their management in the second row alone compared to Johann van Graan, writes Donal Lenihan.

That drawn series was undoubtedly my rugby highlight of the year, writes Donal Lenihan

In the same way that Ireland has always relied on a strong core of Munster players — forwards, in particular — Munster has always been at its belligerent best with a core of influential Limerick forwards on board, writes Donal Lenihan 

As Munster’s on-field coordinator, Billy Holland has to size up the opposition, attack vulnerable areas, and decide where to target, writes Donal Lenihan.