CHARLIE MULQUEEN: Analytical Varley striving to improve lineout technique

Only a couple of years after winning the first of his two Irish caps, Damien Varley finds himself down the pecking order of Ireland’s hookers.

The emergence of Richardt Strauss as Irish qualified hasn’t helped his cause with the South African (although currently on the injured list) second in line to Rory Best with Sean Cronin and Mike Sherry also ahead of Varley heading into a series of Rabo Direct Pro 12 games starting with the visit of Edinburgh to Musgrave Park tomorrow night.

It could be that Varley’s relative fall from grace is connected to problems with his lineout throwing although he isn’t prepared to take all the blame on his own sturdy shoulders.