Australian second row John Langford (above) has been an outstanding acquisition for Munster and Shannon. The former international joined the southern province in the summer and has given coach Declan Kidney not only a peerless lineout jumper but a player whose experience and tactical nous has added another dimension to the Munster pack.

He holds a unique record in never having lost a match in the Munster colours, extending this achievement through the Guinness interprovincial series and the Heineken European Cup. He produced arguably his finest display in Toulouse at the weekend taking six lineouts on Colomiers and French hooker Marc Dal Maso's throw.

Now 31, Langford's international career - he played with ACT in Australia and won four caps for Australia - may be over but it does not diminish the quality of his contribution to Munster and Shannon. The affable six foot seven inch second rower has settled into life in Limerick and concedes that he is enjoying the new lifestyle . . . but possibly not the weather.