Throwback: O'Connell vs Cudmore fight

Thomond Park in 2008 set the scene for one of the most noteworthy one-on-one scraps of the modern era.

Clermont had travelled to the ground to take on the mighty Munster in a Champions Cup game rife with pride and passion.

Paul O’Connell (Munster) and Jamie Cudmore (Clermont), two colossuses in their teams’ respective second rows, came to blows in the 19^th minute.

It was an individual rivalry which had many excited before kick-off but few would have predicted the manner in which it unfolded.

The professional game is largely devoid of the pugilistic factor which was so common in the old days – the punishments players receive for such actions now rendering them not worth it in the long run – so it was quite a surprise (pleasant to some, not so much to others) to see the fists start freely flying in 2008.

On consideration of the scenario, however, it is easy to admit that neither O’Connell nor Cudmore was ever going to back down from a fight.