No-one can justify a siege mentality more than Cork footballers, but maybe this group doesn’t want one

Former Irish rugby and Lions team doctor Eanna Falvey tells a great story about how Joe Schmidt’s attitude is reflected in his players.

The situation was this. Johnny Sexton had just torn a quad muscle in training. Ireland’s most important player was now out for six weeks, just prior to an important series of games. Falvey was tasked with breaking the news to Schmidt.

In an almost sympathetic tone, Falvey began to convey the message to the boss, “Sorry Joe, Johnny is out. It’s going to be six weeks, two matches and no real kicking practice in between”.