Mark Chisholm eyes bright future for Munster’s emerging stars

It is a common affliction, being too close to someone or something to truly appreciate what is staring them in the face.

It may, for instance, affect some diehard followers of Munster, who have borne witness to the glories of the past and mutter darkly about their team’s prospects for the future, particularly at the outset of a 21st campaign in Europe, eight seasons removed from the most recent glimpse of a European trophy.

So when you sit down with someone who has cast a fresh pair of eyes on a familiar landscape it can serve as quite a jolt to hear how good the view looks, especially when that person has 58 Test caps for Australia, is a Super Rugby champion, and a seasoned captain in the French Top 14.