After writing a controversial article on the state of Munster rugby in January, Brendan Fanning of the Sunday Independent decides to talk to chief executive Garett Fitzgerald to see where the province is headed.
"BF: There is a perception - perhaps outside Munster - that the organisation got lazy in the good times and are not equipped for a downturn. Is this fair?
"GF: I think it's a harsh criticism and it was written in your article a few weeks ago. I accept though that you based that charge on information coming from within Munster. If you work with Tony McGahan and Paul O'Connell, you certainly don't get lazy because they are two extremely driven men. They have a huge work ethic and demand high standards. We have a very hard-working staff who are focused on achieving what is best for Munster.
"I think at times, small as the island is, the comparisons that are made are not always fair given the geography and demographics involved. Look at Dublin with a population of one-point-something million. As the game has developed in Ireland, Leinster have done well but their whole academy and development is going to be different given the volume of people they have. We haven't changed anything we've been doing over the years but I think that given the success Leinster have enjoyed over the past number of years, what should have been more obvious then is obvious now, given the numbers."
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