O’Driscoll: Money makes the decisions

The postponement of the RBS 6 Nations clash between France and Ireland brought into focus the risks of trying to play night rugby in the middle of winter, but it would never have got to that stage had the authorities consulted the players.

That’s the opinion of Munster and Irish International second-row Mick O’Driscoll who yesterday compared the 9pm (local time) television dictated slot unfavourably with pre-lunch time kick-offs. He believed it is an unacceptable imposition on the central figures, the players.

“From a player’s perspective a 12.45pm slot is horrendous but 9pm is, well, just out there completely,” he said.