Philip Browne has suggested Munster’s signing of Gerbrandt Grobler was down to a “crying need” for second-row cover, a situation that led the province and the IRFU to ignore the player’s former doping ban.

THERE’S been higher profile Irish exports to South Africa, but not many have made as deep an impression as Cork man Barry O’Mahony has in his 16 years in this country.

ANTHON PITOUT, Munster’s latest overseas signing, chose the province ahead of Toulouse, a decision that did not go down well in the south of France.

Munster coach Declan Kidney has named his 15 to face Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup Semi-Final tomorrow in Lille.