Season of impending bloom kicks off

LONG TIME no see lads ... so how was your summer? Mine was like a box of Pringles (paprika-flavoured). It opened as though it would last forever and suddenly vanished like a Greek sprinter when the testers are in town.

Although it feels strange discussing the summer in a week when every office secretary-pool seems consumed with Christmas parties, the fact is that, though the months passed quickly, this year’s rugby off-season felt like the longest on record.

The season officially kicked off many weeks ago but only truly began last weekend when Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan released the international stars from his gulag and allowed them game time with their provinces.