O’Connell on mend but likely to miss Cup opener in Paris

Paul O’Connell delivered some positive sound bytes when questioned about his fitness yesterday but the Munster and Ireland lock remains a major doubt for the province’s opening Heineken Cup fixture next month.

The 32-year-old played just three more times for Munster last season after injuring his left knee midway through the Six Nations campaign.

He then sat out Ireland’s three-Test summer tour to New Zealand and his recuperation has been complicated since by a back spasm.