How Munster can reap rewards of west Cork rugby revolution

In the midst of the Six Nations hype, the provincial coaches beaver away with reduced playing resources, trying to keep the ship afloat and a season’s work on track over a series of Guinness PRO14 games which, by and large, pass unnoticed. During this window, Munster defeated the Southern Kings and the Ospreys, but fell to a narrow defeat, away to Scarlets, enabling Glasgow to leapfrog them into a three-point lead at the top of Conference A, with five rounds to play.

With no game until March 23, Munster may have just enjoyed a down week, but it proved a very encouraging, productive, and informative few days for those entrusted with identifying and shaping the next wave of talent to keep the flag flying in the provinces. With so many players from outside the province now starting regularly for Munster, it is vital that a strong core of homegrown talent is coming through the schools, youth, and club systems, in order to maintain that unique provincial identity.