Casey delivering the goods for Munster

A year is a long time in rugby, but not long enough for Duncan Casey to stop appreciating the opportunity he is being given to cement a place in Munster’s front row.

When the Cork-born Shannon hooker runs out at Thomond Park tomorrow night to face Ulster, it will be nine days short of the anniversary of his debut on the same ground, a late substitute appearance in the Heineken Cup win over Perpignan.

And it was in Ravenhill last January, that Casey made a more telling contribution as he replaced the injured Damien Varley just before half-time, nailing his first lineout throw on the way to a very successful first year in a Munster jersey.