Paris holds no fears for Sean O’Brien

Tommy O’Donnell can count himself unfortunate to be demoted on the back of last week’s effort against Wales and yet the heart does flutter a tad faster at the thoughts of the back row Joe Schmidt named yesterday for the Valentine’s weekend date in Paris.

Jamie Heaslip has his critics, but he has been an automatic pick for, combined, four Leinster and Ireland coaches for over a decade now.

Sean O’Brien’s return to fitness is exciting in its own right and then there is CJ Stander looking to back up his extraordinary Test debut. It is an exceptional collection of individuals even if that doesn’t always make for a workable collective.