Beirne probably best poacher in the world, declares O’Mahony

Peter O’Mahony was unusually effusive in his praise for Tadhg Beirne before the Kildare man had played a single game for Munster and nothing he has witnessed since has prompted him to dial that down now that his clubmate is on the verge of a first Six Nations cap.

Beirne has just four appearances to his name but his elevation to the second row at the expense of the injured Iain Henderson has generated far more chatter than Sean O’Brien’s return to the line-up after his omission from the matchday 23 against France last week.