Jack O’Donoghue is on a mission

Jack O’Donoghue may be an international back row in his own right but you can understand his desire to make a mark in Italy this weekend before CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony make their returns from Ireland duty.

With a Champions Cup quarter-final at home to French giants Toulouse looming in eight days, and Stander and O’Mahony due to be back in the mix after standout Six Nations campaigns as well the return of Ireland squad member Tommy O’Donnell, the competition for the Munster jerseys numbered six, seven and eight is only going to become more intense.

So O’Donoghue, who feels he is playing catch-up having missed recent matches against Scarlets and Cardiff Blues with an ankle problem, knows a run tomorrow against Guinness PRO12 opposition Zebre in Parma is an excellent opportunity to lay down his claim for involvement in the big European knockout clash the following weekend.