Munster stars may struggle for Test action, fears Jamie Heaslip

Jamie Heaslip believes all five Leinster players could feature in next month’s Lions Tests against New Zealand — but fears the Munster and Ulster contingent face a tougher battle to earn starting spots.

Leinster quintet Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Seán O’Brien, Johnny Sexton, and Robbie Henshaw are all strongly in contention for starting places against the All Blacks in June, while Ulster’s Jared Payne and Munster’s Conor Murray, CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony are potential starters. But, with the sheer amount of back row talent on offer to Warren Gatland, Heaslip fears it is very unlikely that the Munster backrow duo will both start, while Rory Best and Iain Henderson also look outsiders.

“I’d love to see all the Irish guys start, but that’s not going to happen,” Heaslip said.