Donncha carrying Ireland burden

Donncha O’Callaghan will charge into action against arch rivals Leinster tomorrow night believing any provincial success would not make up for the disappointment of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.

O’Callaghan is set to return to duty for Munster for the marquee RaboDirect Pro12 clash with league leaders Leinster, determined to give his all for the second-placed province and make up for the bitter memory of Ireland’s last-day humbling by England at Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day.

The lock had an uncomfortably close-up view of the mauling Ireland received at scrum-time that day and is ruing the fact it came in the last Test of the championship, leaving the international players no chance to make amends until this summer’s three-Test tour to New Zealand.