Since this hack was given the chance to write about rugby for this paper, there have been two constants. Declan Kidney is one. (Be he Munster coach or Ireland coach) and the second is the unpredictability of the same man. Just when you think you have Kidney worked out. He amazes you.
No one expected Denis Hurley and Tomas O’Leary to replace Peter Stringer and Shaun Payne in 2008 in Gloucester. Kidney did just that and Munster went on to win the Heineken Cup.
This week, everyone from pillar to post thought that Tomas O’Leary would make the Ireland World Cup squad. Pundits and fans alike felt that Kidney has his 22 in his head and that was going to be that.
How wrong we all were. There is no doubting that Limerick’s own Conor Murray deserved to go. Many thought that politics and dare we say it, favourites would cost him his place. We are dealing with Declan Kidney though.
The selection of Murray and the omissions of O’Leary and indeed Fitzgerald means that the remaining 30 players know that form will play a part in final selection.
The picking of Buckley and Murphy were slightly forced as Buckley will be needed on both sides of the scrum and indeed, he will be needed after the World Cup as young Irish international props are slim pickings in the three more successful provinces.
The 30 man squad is as strong as Kidney could have picked. The choice of Mc Fadden over Fitzgerald might have more to do with Gordon D’Arcy’s fitness as opposed to Luke’s poor form of late.
The luckless Felix Jones misses out, which means Kidney has gone for a straight specialist full back in Murphy to understudy for Kearney. The cover in the pack is just as impressive. Ryan and Cullen will back up O’Connell and O’Callaghan, while Ferris, Leamy and Ryan will offer competition for Wallace, O’Brien and Heaslip.
Speaking to PostSport this week, Jerry Flannery was looking forward to the squad now being able to focus on patterns and workrate.
“Once the squad is named players mentality changes. They know now that the real work starts. There are more reps for each player and you now know you are in there for the tournament and you have a chance to play in the World Cup”
With Ireland facing England this weekend, (Saturday at 14.30 in the Avivia) a win is a must. A performance is not enough. Confidence is needed before boarding the plane. Although with Kidney at the helm, there may be a few more tricks up his sleeve once the squad get to the land of the long white cloud.
Ireland Rugby World Cup Squad 2011:
Rory Best, Isaac Boss, Tommy Bowe, Tony Buckley, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Leo Cullen, Gordon D’Arcy, Keith Earls, Stephen Ferris, Jerry Flannery, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Rob Kearney, Denis Leamy, Fergus McFadden, Geordan Murphy, Conor Murray, Sean O’Brien, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace, David Wallace.
