O’Connell stays positive as Munster plan without Rog

It would have been understandable if Paul O’Connell was a little apprehensive heading into a tough 15th season with Munster, but the province’s talisman was all positives at Thomond Park yesterday.

O’Connell is delighted the many injuries that have dogged his career in recent years, and not least the arm fracture that brought his Lions career to a premature end during the summer, are finally behind him.

And while he jokes that his fitness levels are a long way behind many in the Munster squad, he knows he will catch up and be in tip-top shape by the time round three of the RaboDirect Pro12 comes around.