O’Donovan: Irish sides set for Europe despite star arrivals

IRELAND’S assistant coach Niall O’Donovan believes the Irish provinces will hold their own in Europe next year despite an influx of highly-paid southern hemisphere players to English Premiership clubs.

O’Donovan believes Ireland’s future problems are closer to home — thinking the Irish club scene has to be sorted out — but he smiled when asked about the possible influence of southern hemisphere players on the European game.

“Obviously, quality players coming into a club can make an impact, but there’s more to it than that. We have actually seen the same trend after the last two World Cups, a trend at a time when Irish provinces were not nearly as strong or professional as they are nowadays.