Holding Court on selection politics

Tom Court doesn’t do loud but his words yesterday, though delivered in hushed tones, spoke volumes for the frustration the Ulster prop still feels at being omitted from the Ireland squad last November.

For three years he had been the first reserve on both sides of the front row. Then match day squads were bumped up from 22 to 23 to allow two replacement props and the 32-year old found his dual qualities weren’t deemed quite so essential.

In came Michael Bent from New Zealand — another man who has packed down at loosehead and tight — as well as Munster’s Dave Kilcoyne whose form allied with youth and long-term potential to earn him the second slot on the bench.