THE Rugby World Cup 2011 is now just one month away. Ireland kick start their campaign on September 11 against the USA in New Plymouth.Ahead of the tournament, the Irish side will face four internationals in four weeks. Starting this weekend with a trip to Murrayfield to take on Scotland, followed by an away and a home game against France, before a home game against the auld enemy, England.
Following on from the 2007 World Cup, Ireland have decided that the best way to prepare for a World Cup is to play hard games over a short period of time. Let’s be honest, it cannot get much worse than 2007, so all is to play for.
The upcoming games are designed to give some players game time as well as try and build units and patterns and defensive systems before the World Cup.
The players in most need of game time are Jerry Flannery, Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy. This week it was confirmed that all three are ready to go. Ireland manager Paul Mc Naughton gave the run down this week on the injuries within the squad.
“Flannery, Kearney and Murphy are ready to go. They were involved in contact last week and are ready for game-time. Gordon D’Arcy (ankle) is tight to make the World Cup. He recovers quickly and is running while bearing his full weight, so is making progress. With these type of injuries, a week can tell us a lot – players can progress a lot in that time as well. Gordon and Stephen Ferris (knee) face a race against time but are making progress. If there is a likelihood of guys not playing before the World Cup then it’s those two. We’re hopeful that they may be ready for game-time, maybe in match three or four of the summer series.”
With these injuries in mind and the potential to be without Brian O’Driscoll for one or even two of the warm up games, Ireland coach Declan Kidney has some decisions to make.
Does the former school teacher stick with a base of proven players and just fill the gaps left by O’Driscoll, Ferris and D’Arcy or does he go for a totally new side for the Scotland game, to see if someone can put their hand up for a spot on the plane to the land of the long white cloud.
All Ireland fans know Declan Kidney, so we know he will play it safe. Expect to see O’Leary start at nine, with Conor Murray being given some time too. Fans will also see Cronin and Flannery battling to start at two with Earls and Kearney sharing a wing slot. Geordan Murphy might get a run too. Fans and players alike will be looking to see Felix Jones given time at 15 in the Scotland game. The young full back has been outstanding for Munster this season. The former Leinster academy member is seen as a shoe in by many, but competition for the number 15 jersey is hotting up, at the right time, for the management.
Messrs O’Gara and Sexton will swap over and back in the coming weeks. Sexton should start all the World Cup games, but O’Gara will still have a role to play.
Who plays outside 10 this weekend is anyone’s guess. Surely Paddy Wallace will not be given ‘another’ chance? Will Earls and Bowe form the partnership? Could Mc Fadden and Bowe do the job? There are several questions to be answered in the coming weeks and I do not envy Kidney’s calls.
The positions most up for grabs for Ireland at the moment are Hooker, Second Row alongside Paul O’Connell, scrum half, inside centre and full back. The Scotland game will not tell us who will be in, but it could very much tell us, who is out. Exciting times.
