PROMISING EARLY SIGNS FOR REDS UNDER CLAYTON

THERE are demonstrations and then there are demonstrations...

- BY DEREK FOLEY

The second demonstration, Clayton McMillan’s Reds in action for the first time in what was ultimately a 34-21 win, was more about torching the house and burning things down.

New boss McMillan may have cut a largely quiet figure since taking over but the grapevine was filling out with whispers that his training ground was a hotbox.

Word was filtering back of flat-out training sessions, running for miles and miles through the wilds and of McMillan favouring the boxing ring as a way of toughening things up.

Munster as a club are traditionally seen as tough cookies - with the Peter O'Mahonys, Paul O'Connells, Denis Leamys Peter Clohessys and Keith Woods of this world apparently hewn from rock.