Flannery eager to put injury nightmare behind him

HE is 31 with 31 caps, but Jerry Flannery is not content to let another year pass without tasting a bigger slice of international rugby action. Should that happen to coincide with a strengthening of Ireland’s position as fourth top side in the world, his increasingly improved mood will be much more upbeat.

Although he is on the cusp of adding to his haul of caps against Australia after months in and out of the treatment room, Flannery needs something to be upbeat about.

Over the last year he has had operations to correct shoulder and elbow problems, suffered a torn calf muscle on his right leg and then a torn calf muscle on his good left leg. The set-backs were enough to drive anyone over the edge.