Mannix has bigger concerns on return to Paris than payback

Although Simon Mannix was shown the door by his Racing Metro paymasters last year, the new Munster backs coach doesn’t care a whit for exacting revenge in this Saturday’s Heineken Cup opener at Stade des France.

His focus will be on the issues he has to address and it’s mainly about helping his new side into the position of the European power they enjoyed throughout the opening decade of the 21st century. So grudge?

“No there has never really been any bitterness about it,” he said. “When I was told I was no longer required I thought, ‘Shit, I haven’t finished off what I wanted to do here’.