IRFU must do more to facilitate player migration

THE latest RaboDirect Pro 12 League table says much about the current status of Leinster and Munster.

Joe Schmidt’s squad lead the way with 11 more points than Tony McGahan’s side which has now been relegated to fourth place. If the current rankings prevailed at the beginning of May, Munster would be travelling to the Aviva Stadium for an away semi-final, a prospect that hardly imbues even the most ardent member of the Red Army with any great deal of confidence.

Leinster may have got away with murder in beating Connacht at the Sportsground on Sunday but their talented youngsters learned more from the escape than had it been a one-sided victory. The fact Schmidt wheeled out virtual rookies for one of the most difficult assignments of the season — a holiday-time away visit to the Galway Sportsground — shows some faith. Munster attempted to pull off the same stunt against Ulster in Belfast and came badly unstuck.