Tipp-ed for the top

ONE of the privileges of being in the Munster Academy is the opportunity to train with the senior squad. On Wednesday, for example, Dave Foley got a glimpse of what may lie in store for him should he progress to the professional ranks: an open training session at Thomond Park where kids, grown men and grannies flocked to the cathedral of Munster rugby to watch the slickest machine in European rugby go through their paces. Gods in their own backyard.

In the thick of the action with the likes of Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll was the 20-year-old lock forward, learning and soaking in every detail from three of the best in his position. In the long tradition of great second rows that wore the No 4 and No 5 shirts for Munster, the young Clonmel native aspires to join this pantheon but knows that plenty hard grind lies ahead.

Talking to this young man with big ambition, something O’Connell said recently came to mind. The Munster captain spoke about what he looks for in a young player coming through. “In the end it’s about mental toughness,” he said. That and a good attitude are attributes O’Connell seeks out, and you sense Foley already ticks the boxes.