O’Mahony: We’ll learn from pain

Peter O’Mahony believes Ireland’s young players can only get stronger for the experience of the heartbreaking defeat in Italy at the weekend.

Such was the injury toll in the Ireland backline at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday that the Munster flanker was forced to play on the wing for the final hour of a 22-15 Six Nations loss he described as “the toughest one to take”.

Yet for all the injuries and disappointments of defeats to England, Scotland and the Italians, a frustrating draw with France and just one victory, the opening-day win over eventual champions Wales, O’Mahony, now a relative veteran of 14 caps at age 23, insisted there is much to be learned from the campaign and plenty of positives to for the future.