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12th December 2014
09:00am GMT
I think Hanrahan would also make a fantastic outside centre. He has superb agility and a low centre of gravity that reminds me of Brian O'Driscoll in that respect. He is also very similar in that he can make something out of nothing.
Rugby is steering towards an Australian style of having play-making 12's and that is where Hanrahan has featured a bit this season. I would love to see him one more out, at outside centre, for a run of games. With a bit more space to operate in, he could do some real damage.
I was tested plenty of times but it was always when I was in Munster and Ireland camp or after a match. It was always quite intrusive. There is a guy standing behind you and he has experience of all sorts of trickery so is taking nothing for granted. You are followed around the dressing room and into the showers to watch for tampering.
When it's time to give your urine sample, you're standing there with your sleeves rolled up and pants down, like a toddler, and a guy standing over your shoulder waiting for you to go. Add to that the worry of missing a plane, if you're away, and it is hardly conducive to an easy flow.
Taking cortisone injections into injured joints, to aid with recovery, is common practice in sport, and every walk of life. I would have had a few injections - having received certs from doctors - and taken supplements like creatine and protein, as well as anti-inflammatories. You always checked with the team doctor to make sure everything was okay. I remember being asked what I had taken in the past week and, as I listed the items off, it dawned on me how much extra supplementation you need to take to play professional sport.
As I have asthma, I would have used ventolin and seretide inhalers but you always had to make sure you had all your paperwork - TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) form - in order before each season. At certain times we would have been warned not to take Lemsips as they might not be allowed. At other times, drinking too much coffee would show up in your results. The testing was all part and parcel of the game during my time. It was very welcome, in my opinion, to ensure we have a clean sport.
I believe that supplement use should not be allowed in schools. Any usage of players between 18 and 21 should be closely monitored and come hand-in-hand with proper education. At that age, and even in the professional ranks, there should never be an onus on taking supplements. It should be a voluntary thing. I don't have a problem with professional sportspeople using it to refuel but, again, that monitoring and education needs to be there.
Clermont have a clean bill of health whereas, for all of their upbeat messages, Munster look to be without Dave Kilcoyne and James Cronin. John Ryan will have a lot weighing on his shoulders on Sunday. They may Andrew Smith back in midfield while Andrew Conway, Johne Murphy or Ronan O'Mahony can come in for Gerhard van den Heever.
Munster need to use that pain they having been feeling all week and channel it into a big performance on Sunday. It will be a massive challenge as Clermont are a serious team and ones that must feel they have a formula to beat Munster. I would never write them off, however. If there is one team that can go to Clermont and win, it's Munster. Like I said last time, they need a good start. If they can do to Clermont like Clermont did
As for the other two Irish provinces in Champions Cup action, Ulster are looking back in form following the return of Ruan Pienaar - he is the world's best scrum-half and possibly the best out-half too. Harlequins will really miss Chris Robshaw but even if he was playing I would still be predicting a home win for Leinster.Explore more on these topics:
