‘O’Mahony and Stander love Munster and Munster loves them’, says Taute

Try as hard as they might, world-class rugby players prefer to do their talking on the pitch rather than seek the limelight in the media — unless contract renewal time has come round again.

That’s when their agents suddenly become amenable to journalists and drop some hints here and there that their clients aren’t happy with the money on offer and might be inclined to seek pastures new.

And so it is the talks between IRFU chiefs and Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander are making front page news in recent days.