A perennial problem for Irish rugby is once again rearing its ugly head.
Round six of the Gallagher Premiership promises to deliver another thrilling weekend of action, with teams looking to solidify their positions ahead of a break before the Test rugby returns in November.
Mike Brown returns to the Leicester Tigers team for the first time this season for Saturday evening's trip to face Premiership leaders Saracens.
Steve Borthwick has delivered a glowing verdict on the impact so far at Leicester of James Cronin, the loosehead signed during the off-season from relegated French club Biarritz to replace Ellis Genge in the front row.
Relegated Biarritz have confirmed the signing of former Wallabies midfielder Joe Tomane just a day after the club named the 19 players who are leaving them following their Top 14 demotion.
James Cronin has represented Munster on 142 occasions and scored 20 tries since making an April 2013 debut versus Leinster.
In the old way of life, James Cronin’s bizarre doping violation would have caused a media storm, not died a very quick shrug-of-the-shoulders death in the sports reporting vacuum.
O’Mahony has held off the challenge of the in-form Rhys Ruddock to start against New Zealand.
Munster Rugby and the IRFU have confirmed Chris Cloete, James Cronin, Neil Cronin, Chris Farrell and Tommy O’Donnell have all signed contract extensions, while scrum-half Nick McCarthy is set to join the province.
