O’Connell: I’ll be ready for Quins clash

Paul O’Connell will be ready for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins in Twickenham in 13 days after making a try-scoring return for the province on Saturday night.

The former &Lions captain, who underwent surgery on December 31 to correct a bulging disc in his lower back, took another significant step in his return to full fitness when he completed 80 minutes for Munster in 22-0 RaboDirect Pro12 victory over Connacht at Musgrave Park, Cork.

After making his comeback in the A game against Leinster in Limerick 10 days earlier, followed by an 80-minute outing for Young Munster last weekend, O’Connell, 33, made his first senior start for Munster since the Heineken Cup round two pool win over Edinburgh on October 21 and even scored his first try in almost four years as he burst over the line from short range to open his side’s scoring after just 11 minutes.