'Evan O'Connell's selection on Emerging Ireland team was never in question' says Munster attack coach Andi Kyriacou

"IT was never in question why Evan O'Connell shouldn't have gone on this tour with the Emerging Ireland squad, he was a shoe-in for it really."

This was Munster Rugby's attack coach Andi Kyriacou response to Evan O'Connell's selection on the Irish team that will tour South Africa next week.

The Emerging Ireland squad contains nine Munster Rugby players with Kyriacou heavily involved with the Munster players picked on the Irish squad over the past few years.

Speaking at the Munster Rugby press conference this week Kyriacou went on to say: "I've been really impressed with the lads picked on the Irish squad over the summer in the lead up this touring squad being announced.

"I knew a lot of them from the pathway from a previous role and I coached Evan with the Ireland U18's a couple of years back, but he is an incredible mature kid, who understands the line-out very well, confident and very assure of his skills. I'm very excited about where he can get to and the other players have seen that. He has a bit to improve around how quickly we play but that's all part of his age profile and how much he can grow as a player."

Emerging Ireland will face the Pumas in their campaign opener on Wednesday, October  2 (Kick-off 4pm local time/3pm Irish time), before going head-to-head with Super Rugby outfit Western Force on Sunday, October 6 (Kick-off 1pm local time/12pm Irish time).

Simon Easterby’s side will then conclude the Tour against defending Currie Cup champions the Cheetahs on Wednesday, 9 October (Kick-off 7pm local time/6pm Irish time), with all matches being played at Toyota Stadium.