O’Mahony ready to stake back-row claim

IT was Declan Kidney who said it first, but we would do well to heed his words – recent events notwithstanding, these are special times in Irish rugby.

Look at the budgets of Biarritz, Toulouse, Toulon, the three French teams who beat (respectively) Munster, Leinster and Connacht in the recent Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals, and compare – massive disparities.

The reason the Irish provinces are competing so well is because of the conveyor belt of talent streaming through the academy systems. In that regard, Munster are especially well served. Their A team – made up primarily of academy players – having qualified unbeaten for the inaugural British & Irish Cup final, against Cornish Pirates on May 16.