They were simpler times.
Paul Dean was the Ireland out-half for the opening two games of the Five Nations in 1986 but injury against Wales meant coach Mick Doyle needed a replacement.
Two players, the uncapped Ralph Keyes, 24, and Tony Ward, holder of 17 caps, then 32, were in the mix.
And it was a stand-out performance for Cork Con prior to the trip to Twickenham, a 25-20 loss, that earned Keyes his first cap. Everyone played with their clubs and you graduated to the inter-pro side, Keyes tells RTÉ Sport. Thereafter you played in the domestic inter-pro competition and the Irish trial, which could have been the biggest game in many years because you could have one or two good inter-pro matches or a poor one but if you had a good Irish trial you could get in.
Ronan O Gara: Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton s futures are different debates
Ireland is looking for someone to back up Murray at nine. The 10 issue is a perfect reverse: we should be wondering who Sexton is backing up and mentoring as a third choice.
Andy Farrell et al knows better than you or I that the attack is a work in progress, that Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray does not work for Ireland at the 2023 World Cup, writes Ronan O Gara
Fri, 19 Feb, 2021 - 10:28
Didn’t think so.
When some people talk about ‘under-pressure Andy Farrell’, I am moved to wonder: Under pressure from whom? The public? And water is wet. That is an abstract issue. Being ‘under pressure’ is not the sort of language a coach in Farrell’s position really concerns himself with anyway.
Updated / Thursday, 11 Feb 2021
13:04
The France side visiting Dublin for Sunday s Six Nations are not only tournament favourites, but also in possession of some of the best young talent in world rugby.
Those emerging talents may be callow at Test level, but they bring a wealth of experience from the leading Top 14 clubs.
In contrast, while Ireland s conveyor belt remains strong in terms of producing players, the provincial system does bring some limitations in terms of providing adequate game-time for those emerging talents, according to Donal Lenihan.
Speaking on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast in light of a clamour from some quarters to call up Leinster s young out-half Harry Byrne amid injury and form concerns among Ireland s 10s, Lenihan drew a contrast between the Irish model and France s situation, while pointing out the need to allow some players to make temporary moves abroad to gain experience and spread the talent out.