Boks of tricks

Munster's South African centre and full back want to create their own piece of Thomond Park magic today. Edward Newman and Charlie Mulqueen spoke to Springboks, Trevor Halstead and Shaun Payne.

WHEN Alan Gaffney revealed in the summer of 2002 that South African Shaun Payne was one of his new signings, it could hardly be said that there was rejoicing among Munster fans. Already into his 30s, he was part of a struggling Swansea team and the big days with Natal Sharks were long past.

Furthermore, Christian Cullen was going in the same direction. That ruled out filling the full-back jersey he had adorned in his younger days and as Payne commented at the time: "Cully is Cully, I was in awe of him and the prospect of being on the same team was fantastic. And he wasn't the only one I had to beat for a place because Munster had a shedload of backs."