Donal Lenihan: Trawling my attic for the Munster jersey that never was

As part of the first Munster side to face the All Blacks post 1978, the hype was incredible in 1989 as we prepared to face the tourists in front of 18,000 people at Musgrave Park. Then someone got twitchy.

Munster’s Ken O’Connell wins a lineout against the All Blacks at Musgrave Park in the 1989. The visitors won the game 31-9. Pic: Fotoware

In times of turmoil and strife, it’s great to have a distraction. I’m not quite sure if any game against a New Zealand touring side can truly be classified as a distraction but, right now, that’s exactly how it feels.

The news that Graham Rowntree and Munster agreed to go their separate ways caught everyone cold when it was announced early on Tuesday. Despite all the usual talk and rumours doing the rounds from all camps, you felt that Rowntree’s recent success in delivering a URC trophy two years ago along with topping the log at the completion of the regular 18 game URC league program last season counted for something.