Putting your body on the line

FEARLESSNESS on the rugby pitch is an ingredient to be admired, despite the attendant danger that some players will go a little over the top and put themselves needlessly at risk.

In his prime, Keith Wood was an obvious example. Nowadays, Jerry Flannery, one of his successors in the No 2 Munster jersey, seems to be going down a similar route. The manner in which he carries the ball and puts in his tackles is hugely exciting and impressive and why he has exploded onto the national scene.

Flannery hasn't been in the Munster team very long but since his introduction in place of Frankie Sheahan for the Heineken Cup game against Castres, he has caught the eye with his remarkable work rate and the manner in which he throws himself into the thick of the battle without any apparent consideration for his own safety.