Keatley: Ireland snub drove Munster on

Ireland call-up Ian Keatley has revealed the collective bitterness at so many of Munster’s players being overlooked for the November Tests has driven the province to Heineken Cup qualification ahead of schedule.

Fly-half Keatley, 26, was one of 10 Munster men selected by Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt in a 44-man extended squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations and Irish Wolfhounds fixture against England Saxons.

Seven of Rob Penney’s players were called up by Schmidt for the Tests against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand, with only Ireland captain Paul O’Connell, back-rower Peter O’Mahony and scrum-half Conor Murray featuring in all three, with tighthead prop Stephen Archer used as a replacement against the Wallabies.