Poise, Posts and the Power Position

TUESDAY, and the Killiney Castle Hotel for the announcement of the Irish rugby team to play Italy in Croke Park tomorrow.

Obviously there was huge media interest at the press conference in Kevin McLaughlin, the new cap, who handled the attention well. In fact, the new man at number six wasn’t long in outlining his thoughts on the requirements of an international blindside flanker.

“Six is the hammer man,” he said, “To make sure you lay down the tempo early on by getting a big hit in.”