Time and friends in short supply

On the patio of a south Dublin hotel last Wednesday lunchtime, Seán O'Brien was fulfilling his media duties with a handful of Sunday journos. It was standard stuff: we were there to marvel at the latest change in shade or fabric that Canterbury are bringing to the kit they supply to the Ireland team. To encourage us to turn up we are given a player from whom we drag a few quotes. That's how the game works.