Age no barrier for Malcolm

ELEVEN weeks have slipped by since Declan Kidney named his first Irish squad and Malcolm O’Kelly found himself surplus to requirements.

It was interpreted at the time as the beginning of the end for the big man in the professional game, the first in a series of steps that would see him edge closer to the exit. However, all the evidence since points to a player eager to cling on to the carousel.

Injury concerns over Paul O’Connell allowed him back into the international scene for the last of the three autumn internationals against Argentina in November and Michael Cheika has kept him busy since his return to club duty.