CHRIS HEWETT

WHEN it comes to openside flankers, New Zealand’s grand tradition has long been grander than everyone else’s. Nathan, Mourie, Jones, Kronfeld, McCaw? They weren’t many mugs amongst that little lot.
Yet it is possible to argue that over the last couple of decades, Ireland have been doing just as many things right in the No.7 department. David Wallace and Sean O’Brien were both Test Lions in the position; Jonny O’Connor and Dan Leavy had the makings of worldbeaters and might have fulfilled their potential but for cruel luck with i...