Paulie plans for final push

Next month’s tour to Argentina will be the first in the post Brian O’Driscoll era and as another one slips into retirement, captain Paul O’Connell admitted it comes as a reminder his own days are numbered.

The 34-year old is the most capped player in the tour party and as O’Driscoll slips off the stage a year after Ronan O’Gara, O’Connell said it made him all the more determined to make the most of the time left.

The enthusiasm shown by the young players and the fact that he has never been to Argentina are two of the things firing the cylinders a couple of days after Munster’s exit from the Pro12.