Rory O'Connor

I know Ben Healy subsequently became an international but three players of international calibre in those positions.

They had Conor Murray coming off the bench to cover Craig Casey.

Up front they had Orji Snyman and Jean Klein.

Klein wasn't a spring block at that stage.

That obviously was an issue.

Antoine Frisch was part of that team.

Peter O'Mahony, who I think, you know, it can't be underestimated how big a loss he is to that squad this season.

We flagged it at the start of the year that they were losing a huge amount of leadership.

They lost a lot of guile coming into last season.

They lost a lot of leadership and experience.

Stephen Archer, another one, you know, John Ryan is a year older.

A couple of their tight end props haven't been able to go on to the pitch this season.

And Olly Yeager.

and Roman Salanoa, who hasn't played for a couple of years now.

The squad is not as strong as it once was.

We're seeing the financial implications.

They're in almost a self-fulfilling prophecy of the strong isn't a squad, the income isn't as good, things get weaker as it goes.

And...

What was one of the strongest brands in Irish sport 20 years ago is being diminished and diminished all the time.

And the team is now in a real battle every year to finish in the top eight of a strengthening competition.