McGahan: skill is still vital

MAGNERS LEAGUE winning coach Tony McGahan yesterday denied that Irish rugby is fixated with producing gymnasium robots rather than skilful rugby players.

Munster’s McGahan faces more front-row selection headaches given the likelihood that Darragh Hurley will be ruled out of contention for tomorrow’s revenge clash with Ulster at Thomond Park, but he took time out to offer a different perspective on the argument made by former Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) fitness expert Mike McGurn who claimed that bulking up was more important than game management skills.

In a hard-hitting criticism of the modern game, McGurn said: “A lot of players are spending too much time on conditioning rather than with the ball. Rather than heading for the space or putting a guy into space they’ll try and run through you and that’s why they are getting hurt.