Niall Scannell: I’ll keep head down and hope for Ireland’s call

A combination of elation and disappointment were Niall Scannell’s chief emotions as several of his Munster colleagues were called up to last week’s Irish camp at Carton House. 

The Munster hooker was thrilled kid brother Rory was part of the build-up to the game against Australia. But the Dolphin man also admits frustration at not having heard from Joe Schmidt after many fine performances.

“To have Rory up there was brilliant and I think he really enjoyed the experience, even just being 24th man,” says Niall. “He was probably disappointed to be left out but it is great for him to be soaking up that experience. I was probably a touch disappointed not to be involved in any of the training squads but it would be unnatural not to be. I want to play for my national team but you just got to trust the system, that if you keep performing and keep doing what you need to do here, that hopefully it will come.”