Irish coach Warren Gatland might be paying a visit to Donnybrook soon, and it will have nothing to do with watching inter-provincial fare. Instead Gatland may care to examine the form of Australia-born scrum-half Brad Free, now happily recovered from a serious leg injury.

Free sustained the damage while playing for Ireland A against Canada at Ravenhill the season before last. He was formerly with Saracens, where he was highly regarded - so much so that he proved more than an able deputy for England scrum-half Kyran Bracken.

He played for Bective Rangers in a Floodlit Cup match and by all accounts has lost none of his lustre.