Stephen Archer looks for cure after Ireland rugby hangover

Like any rugby player, Stephen Archer just wants to play games. So after a personally disappointing Ireland camp, the Munster prop is delighted to be back in his province and eager to prove detractors wrong.

The 25-year-old tighthead copped some flak in sections of the media following his 24-minute shift off the bench against Australia 12 days ago on a day when Ireland misfired across the park at Aviva Stadium.

Archer was subsequently omitted from Joe Schmidt’s match-day squad to face New Zealand a week later as Declan Fitzpatrick returned as cover for Mike Ross. But the Corkman had no time to mope as his services were required by Munster and he gratefully accepted a bench role in last Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 bonus-point win at Cardiff Blues which helped his province take a four-point lead at the top of the table.