Neil Francis's column (Sport, 28 September) predicted that Leinster would not 'leak tries' in their Celtic League clash with neighbours Munster. He suggested that Marcus Horan would have a torrid experience against Van Der Linde and that Leinster would notch up its 81st victory against Munster in their 132-year 130 game histories.
These were brave assertions. Sadly, from a Leinster viewpoint, none of them were realised. As a keen reader of his column, I can recall his stories of jogging to his local shopping mall in his Blackrock gear, to dusting himself off the Thomond Park turf after shipping a Shannon tackle. He is equally capable of 'taking it' and 'giving it'!
However, in terms of history, he should stick to the modern era. What happened between two teams in Dunlop's Field in 1876 does not have the same resonance as the same venue with a different name on a score line of Leinster 6 Munster 30 in April 2006. Likewise on a score line of 18-0 to Munster at the RDS last Sunday the suggestion that Leinster are "more defens-ively sound" is more historical than factual!
Pat O'Connor,
Rosroe Avenue,
Caherdavin, Co Limerick.