Michael Bradley, the former Ireland scrum-half and now head coach of Italian side Zebre, was last night casting an envious eye at the strength of the squad announced by his Munster counterpart Johann van Graan ahead of tonight’s Guinness PRO14 tie at Thomond Park.

Rory Best, who will win his 200th cap for Ulster in Saturday’s Guinness Pro14 inter-provincial derby in Belfast says that, if selected, he is ready to lead Ireland again in the Autumn Test series.