O’Connell: No need for scalpel, just hard work

PUT down the scalpel and hang up on that agent. The only changes Munster need in the wake of the weekend’s Heineken Cup exit, says captain Paul O’Connell, is a reversal of form and a long, hard look in the mirror.

Sunday’s demoralising and era-ending defeat in Toulon has left many on the outside, and probably some within, the Munster camp to consider major surgery on the existing set-up, with a raft of new personnel coming in for next season.

Yet O’Connell, who started his first Heineken Cup game in a year in the 32-16 Pool Three loss at Stade Mayol, said yesterday, ahead of Saturday’s final group game at home to London Irish, that his beloved province just have to work through their problems and wait for the corner to be turned.