Rory Scannell looks to the future after season of stunning personal progress

As trying a season as it has been for Munster, a bright spot has been the emergence of a new generation of homegrown talent that gives Rory Scannell optimism for a resurgence in his province’s fortunes.

Scannell, 22, has been at the forefront of the Munster new boys alongside his brother Niall at hooker and back rower Jack O’Donoghue, who have had to make their mark in difficult circumstances as Anthony Foley’s squad has been forced to cope with the absence through retirement, injury or departure of a raft of experienced and battle-hardened leaders.

The PBC and Dolphin fly-half turned inside centre was asked to fill one of those vacuums, when Tyler Bleyendaal and Denis Hurley’s seasons were cut short through injury.