Ian Costello hails Francis Saili impact as Munster chiefs defend recruitment policy

This week’s news that Connacht star Robbie Henshaw has decided to leave his native province and link up with Leinster has come as another source of disappointment for Munster fans disenchanted with their team’s poor form and a perception that not a whole lot is being done about it.

There was a time when big name players came to Munster from abroad on an annual basis. The great Australian second-row John Langford started the trend and over the years the likes of Jim Williams, Christian Cullen, Trevor Halstead, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, and Doug Howlett followed in his footsteps.

The ‘Red Army’ want to see more of this type of player coming to Munster, especially at a time when Ulster seem to be unusually well off this in this regard and with Leinster able to pick up a big name apparently without undue difficulty. They even cast envious eyes west to Connacht, where Bundee Aki has proved an inspired signing.