Strauss can’t wait for real thing after taste of Irish life

Richardt Strauss tried hisbest to stay on message and turn the attention to Aironi yesterday but even the tight-lipped South African couldn’t prevent the conversation from zeroing in on his imminent eligibility for Ireland.

The former Springbok U19 hooker has already been pictured wearing a green tracksuit at Carton House in recent weeks and will be officially qualified to represent this country after the Six Nations.

Declan Kidney has already talked up the queue for the number two jersey, with Rory Best holding sway over Sean Cronin, Damien Varley and Mike Sherry, but Strauss is a live possibility for the summer’s tour of New Zealand.