SHANE

HORGAN did not yield in the face of Irish rugby displeasure.

The national team is exquisitely sensitive not just to criticism, but indeed any opinion that does not conform to the thinking inside their camp.

Therefore, Joe Schmidt has been snippy when comments made by Horgan (above) have been relayed to him. Horgan’s views on the place of Tommy Bowe in the squad for the opening match against Scotland drew a tart response from the Irish coach – but Horgan was correct. He has become a strident and independent-thinking pundit.