Eddie O'Sullivan joined us on Monday Night Rugby to discuss exactly what he learned from the NFL during his time in the Ireland setup.

The issue arose after the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams confirmed their places in the Super Bowl in February, and Eddie has a love for all things oval.

"In lots of different ways [we borrowed things from NFL]. About communications systems, breaking stuff down on defence.

"Going down into micro when players are in certain situations when players have to understand exactly what the priority is right now, at this exact moment.

"The other one is that they are brilliant at managing the clock, which we have got to figure out in rugby.  You see teams waste time in the last two or three minutes aiming to keep the ball in play, or teams keeping it in play and then they get it out of play. You see this lack of understanding [in rugby.]"

Eddie gave a specific instance from the NFL where Irish players and clubs can improve their marginal gains.

"In that [NFL] game last night, the Patriots take the lead with literally forty seconds on the clock. Kansas drive it down, and manage the clock perfectly - in forty seconds - to tie the game.

"They do that in basketball as well. We haven't got to that point in rugby yet - you still see teams fritter away time at the end of a game that is very important to them.

"They might make a conversion - the kicker spends a minute making a conversion that doesn't matter. They have got to get the ball to halfway and try to get a try.

"He runs a minute off the clock making sure he gets the ball inside the posts for two points that don't matter.

"Those situations would not go unnoticed in American sports. They are not like that."

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