Declan Kidney wary of a South African backlash at Croke Park

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney believes South Africa’s disappointing run of results during their tour of Europe will make the Grand Slam champions an even bigger target for the Springboks in Saturday’s big Guinness Series international at Croke Park (2.30pm).


To date South Africa suffered defeat to France in a fiercely-competitive Test in Toulouse as well as to both Leicester and Saracens when not fielding full-strength sides.
The world champions did record a 32-10 victory over Italy last weekend and Declan Kidney is hoping to guide Ireland to an unbeaten year in 2009.
Coach Kidney said: “I regret the results South Africa have had on their tour. We are sort of lined up, really. The have beaten the Lions in their three-game series. They have won the Tri Nations.
“Not too many teams go to the South of France and win. That defeat to France then will be the one which will disappoint them.
“Mid-week matches, like the ones South Africa played against Leicester and Saracens, are hugely commercially attractive fixtures, but they are difficult for the touring sides because of the travelling and logistics involved. This is the last game’s of South Africa’s season. We know we are a bit of a target for them.
“I am sure, what their results so far on the tour have done, is target us even more.
“It would be a fine finish to their season, to beat us on our own patch.
“I think they will be well motivated on Saturday.”
The big talking point from Kidney’s team selection for Saturday was his surprise decision to name Jonathan Sexton at out-half instead of the vastly experienced Ronan O’Gara.
Otherwise Kidney has kept faith with the XV that drew 20-20 with Australia in Ireland’s autumn opener with Keith Earls replacing knee injury victim Luke Fitzgerald.
Ronan O’Gara will be 34 by the time the next World Cup arrives in 2011 and there has been a critical lack of depth at fly-half, until Sexton’s arrival.
The Springboks will offer a clearer picture of whether Sexton is the solution and Kidney admitted he needed to see him properly tested.
“I know we have a world-class outside-half in Ronan (O’Gara), but we have to find out things about ourselves,” Kidney said this week.
“Jonathan had a good game last week, but with respect Fiji were short of a few so it was difficult to read. I need to find out more.
“Ronan is disappointed, but is the perfect pro. He’s taken it on the chin, has continued training and has contributed to the team exactly as he would normally.
“It was a difficult call, but that doesn’t really matter. My job is to pick an Ireland team and that’s what I’ve done.”
There was disappointment for Limerick scrum-half Eoin Reddan who was not included in the match day 22 for the big game.
Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer was named among the replacements instead of Leinster star Reddan who started last week’s tie against Fiji at the RDS.

IRELAND TEAM
Rob Kearney (Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O’Driscoll (Capt) (Leinster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster), Keith Earls (Munster); Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Tomas O’Leary (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Jerry Flannery (Munster), John Hayes (Munster); Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), David Wallace (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: Sean Cronin (Connacht), Tony Buckley (Munster), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster).

Colm Kinsella

Kidney sounds a note of caution

IRELAND rugby coach Declan Kidney has sounded a note of caution ahead of Sunday’s big Guinness Series clash with Australia at Croke Park, pointing out that the Grand Slam winners have only beaten the Wallabies twice in their 10 meetings during rugby’s professional era.
Kidney’s Ireland begin their three-match autumn international series with a fixture against an Australian side boosted by their victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Sunday’s meeting at GAA headquarters has a 3pm kick-off.
Head coach Kidney is hoping Ireland build on their Grand Slam heroics of last March, but he stressed that the team was under no illusion about the size of the task facing them in the coming weeks with Test matches against Australia, followed by fixtures with Fiji and World champions, South Africa.


“Last year we played one Tri-Nations team and came a bad second to New Zealand. They (Tri-Nations teams) are the next target for us,” Declan Kidney pointed out.
“This year we have four games against Tri-Nations teams and we play Australia twice; they are the first game of our international season and the last game.
“We’re under no illusions as to the size of the task that we’re up against and we know the difficulties and the challenges that we are up against. Ireland have played Australia 10 times in the professional era and only won two of them.
“Ireland v Australia matches have always been good clashes and we are looking forward to it.’
“Our job is to put in the best performance we can against Australia. That is definitely the priority. Have we been working on plans towards the World Cup in 2011? We certainly have, towards fixtures and planning. That is what we have been doing.
“It is a time to park that now and get ready for this because you want to get you want to build momentum and you want to build confidence.
“Working towards the next World Cup, given that Australia are in our group, means that we should concentrate 100% on playing Australia.”
Ireland’s Australian-born backs coach, Alan Gaffney said there are clear signs that the Wallabies are developing into a top class team.
Former Munster coach Gaffney, who also spent time as back coach to the Wallabies said: “I think Australia are very close to being a very good side. I don’t think they are too far away at the present time.
“There are areas of their great, I am sure, they would like to improve on. But across the board now, I think they are a very good side.
“They have a good set-piece generally. Their scrum is very competitive now where there were years in the past when it hadn’t been. And they have a very good backline.
“They have the makings of a very good team.”
Meanwhile, Munster’s new South African prop Wian du Preez has been named on the Springboks’ replacements’ bench for their Test match with France in Toulouse this Friday night (7.45pm).
Du Preez, who is due to join up with Munster squad in time for the December 5 Magners League tie with the Ospreys, is the only uncapped player included in the Springboks’ 22 for the Test match with France at the Stade Municipal.
Munster confirmed this week that Cheetahs loosehead prop du Preez will join the Magners League champions on a short term contract once his commitments with the Springboks current tour of Europe is complete later this month.
With Marcus Horan and Dave Ryan ruled out through illness and injury respectively until after Christmas, and Darragh Hurley also on the injured list, Munster confirmed that the 27-year-old du Preez would be joining the squad until the end of January.
Du Preez was originally omitted from the Springboks squad for the current tour, which ends with a Test match against ireland at Croke Park on Saturday, November 28.
However, he was called up to Peter de Villiers squad over the weekend along with Cheetahs team-mate Adriaan Strauss.
Subject to obtaining clearance from his home Union, obtaining a work permit and passing the normal medical procedures, du Preez will join up with the squad in time for the Ospreys game which takes place the week before Munster resume their Heineken Cup campaign against Perpignan at Thomond Park on Friday, December 11.

Colm Kinsella

D-Day looms for Marcus Horan

DOUBTS over the participation of prop Marcus Horan in the upcoming autumn internationals are expected to be cleared up this weekend when the results of medical tests carried out on the 32-year-old are known.
Marcus Horan was replaced mid-way through the opening half of Munster’s Heineken Cup Pool match against Treviso at Thomond Park last month after reportedly feeling unwell.


Sixty six times capped Horan has been undergoing medical tests away from the Limerick-based Irish camp this week and the results of those tests are expected to be known this Friday.
Ireland will face Australia in the first of three games in the Guinness autumn international series on Sunday, November 15.
Irish coach Declan Kidney explained: “There are on-going investigations and, not being a medic, I wouldn’t know (exactly what is wrong). I know that Marcus is not able to train and it is just prudent. He is just getting looked after and as soon as we know more we will let you know. In this job you can’t afford to rule guys out until they are definitely out. He would need to be active next week to be involved with it.
“The investigations are taking place and the latest that we have is that they will have something concrete on Friday. I would only be adding to the rumours if I was to come out and say something now.
“But I was talking to him - he’s in good form - giving out to me as much as ever. He’s just not medically right. Sometimes you can talk about injuries in terms of calves and muscles, but this is something else. What it is I just don’t know yet.”

Jerry Flannery setback
Speaking at a press conference at the Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel this Wednesday, Kidney also explained that Munster hooker Jerry Flannery had a setback in training this week.
Flannery hasn’t played since tearing his calf against Northampton in Munster’s opening Heineken Cup pool match in the middle of last month.
Flannery will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness before the clash with the Wallabies at Croke Park.
Kidney revealed that the Irish medical staff have had a number of injuries and ailments to deal with over the first two days of the Limerick camp.
“We have a number of players who are at different stages - Tomas (O’Leary), Paddy Wallace and Denis Leamy have colds,” Declan Kidney said.
“We got through training okay this morning (Wednesday), but we just had to work our way through it.
“With the lads playing last weekend, and that’s what we would have wanted as you don’t want to go too long without a game, but you don’t want to cut it too short either.
“Rob (Kearney) was out, Gordon D’Arcy played a little bit of a part this morning as did Brian (O’Driscoll). The non-contact stuff basically for the two of those.
“Tony Buckley is rehabbing away (on a calf injury) and that’s probably one of the more long-term ones. It will probably be a week or so before he gets back into it. Jerry (Flannery) didn’t tog out today, Leo Cullen is rehabbing and Paddy Wallace will hopefully get back into things tomorrow.”

Team captain
Declan Kidney also confirmed that Brian O’Driscoll will continue as Ireland captain for their opening internationals of the new season.
Coach Kidney said: “Paul (O’Connell) has captained the Lions and captained Munster quite well, Donncha (O’Callaghan) has captained the Lions and Ronan (O’Gara) has captained the Lions. Ronan has captained with Munster and Ireland also.
“In Brian’s case, he brings a lot of experience to it, like the other lads would do, he is motoring well at the moment so we just felt it prudent.
“It’s been a long time since we were together, six or seven months, so, for continuity and for a whole host of reasons really, we decided to stay with him.”
But the Irish management team will continue to take a series by series approach to the captaincy, meaning that they may opt for a new man when Ireland defend their Six Nations title in the spring.
“It’s like we dealt with it last year, it is just on a series by series basis,” Kidney continued.
“That helps in Brian’s case, too, as it doesn’t heap pressure on him for a whole year and allows him to come in and be captain and then just get on with his game in December and January. We will see him again come February, but I think any one of a host of guys could actually do that.”
Ireland’s current 39-man squad will be whittled down to 30 players this Friday, with the team and replacements to face Australia being named on Wednesday afternoon.

Munster A
James Coughlan will lead Munster A, in their final before the start of the British and Irish Cup, when they take on Ulster in Musgrave Park on Friday afternoon (2pm).
The side shows just five changes, three in the backs and two up front, from the one that saw off Leinster 21-15 last time out in Clonmel RFC.
Ian Nagle- injured on that occasion- returns to partner Dave Foley in the second row, while the experienced Damien Varley comes into the front row in place of Mike Sherry who is included on the bench.
In the backs, injury rules Duncan Williams out and Paul Rowley steps up to partner Declan Cusack while coach Anthony Foley can call on senior international Denis Hurley and A international Felix Jones to replace Danny Barnes and Ronan O’Mahony respectively.
O’Mahony is named on the bench and Barnes will be on duty tomorrow for the Munster Academy when they take on the Ireland U20s in Athlone.

Munster A: Danny Riordan; Felix Jones,Tom Gleeson, Scott Deasy, Denis Hurley; Declan Cusack, Paul Rowley; Dave Kilcoyne, Damian Varley, Stephen Archer; Ian Nagle, Dave Foley; Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan (Capt).
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Christy Condon, Kieran Essex, Pater O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ronan O’Mahony, Eric Maloney.

Colm Kinsella

Ireland rugby captain won’t be named until November

MUNSTER captain Paul O’Connell will have to wait until November to learn whether his successful spell as Lions skipper this summer will result in the Limerick man assuming the role of Irish captain this season.
Irish coach Declan Kidney said he planned to adopt the same policy in relation to naming his team captain as last season.
Then Kidney delayed making the announcement that Brian O’Driscoll would continue in the role until just before the November internationals.


Grand Slam champions Ireland face Australia, Fiji and South Africa on successive weekends in Dublin this autumn.
Brian O’Driscoll led Ireland to their first Grand Slam success in 61 years last March while Paul O’Connell received lavish praise for his captaincy of Ian McGeechan’s Lions squad this summer.
Speaking in Limerick yesterday during an Irish squad training camp at UL Kidney explained: “I have talked to Brian (O’Driscoll) about it and we will do the same as last year. I think it is well documented that he had some laser surgery on his eyes over the past couple of weeks, so his own pre-season needs a bit of time and space for him to have a good one.
“Let’s see who rolls up in November and we can see where we go from there then.
“I think one of the strengths is that we have a Grand Slam-winning captain, we have a Lions captain and two other guys who captained the Lions at different stages of the tour, the Heineken Cup captain, a co-captain in the Magners League and one from the Churchill. I understand there will be a bit of speculation, but my job is to try and look after each guy.”
Kidney explained that Ireland and Munster hooker Jerry Flannery will be out of action for ‘a couple of weeks’ after tweaking his calf muscle last week.
Munster scrum-half Tomas O’Leary will not resume contact work in training until he visits his surgeon at the end of this month to find out how his recovery from a fractured ankle injury is progressing.
Coach Kidney said O’Leary’s recovery was ‘progressing nicely’ .
Irish coach Kidney also warned supporters about having sky-high expectations of the side as a result of their Grand Slam-winning exploits in March.
“I was lucky enough to be involved with teams which won something one year and you become the target everyone else judges themselves off the next season,” Kidney said.
“That is just pretty much the same. I feel there was lots of talk that when we managed to get the win over Argentina that we were not too good.
“I didn’t think that was true. I don’t think we are the greatest team in the world right now even though that might be thought in some places.
“If we did nothing else, but learn off the economic situation for the past 10 years, let’s not get greedy.
“If we get greedy and expect it, then no one is going to have any fun out of any of this.
“We have a match against Australia in two months time. That is all we are looking forward to.”
Meanwhile Munster back-row Nick Williams, who was forced out of last weekend’s game against Sale Sharks at Musgrave Park with a knee injury, will miss Friday’s game against London Irish at Musgrave Park (7pm).
The injury however is not as bad as it first appeared with Kiwi Williams expected to recover after a period of rest. He is set to have further medical assessment later in the week.
This will be the second year in succession that Munster and London Irish play each other in a pre-season game. It’s also the second successive year they will compete for the Jack Wakefield Memorial Trophy.

Colm Kinsella

Munster Lions join McGeechan’s squad in Surrey

MUNSTER’S Lions are due in England today to begin a pre-tour training camp in Surrey ahead of the squad departure to South Africa on Sunday next - the five Munster Lions on Ian McGeechan’s squad who played in the province’s 36-10 Magners League victory over the Ospreys at Thomond Park on Friday night came through the game unscathed.
David Wallace, who bagged two tries, Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan and Lions skipper Paul O’Connell contributed handsomely to the victory over the Welsh visitors. Hooker Jerry Flannery, who was not involved in the win, is also set to join up with the Lions squad in Surrey.
A decision will be made later today on whether flanker Alan Quinlan will appeal his 12-week suspension which puts his participation in the Lions tour in serious doubt.
Quinlan was banned until 9 September after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of making contact with the eye area of Leinster’s Leo Cullen in the sides’ Heineken Cup semi-final.
Quinlan was in Thomond Park on Friday night as Munster received the Magners League trophy following the game against the Ospreys.
Munster and Lions skipper O’Connell said it was important the side put on a big performance in their final home game of the season.
“I’ve been training away for two weeks since we got knocked out of the Heineken Cup semi-final, but it’s great for my match fitness to play.
“You can’t get that without games,” Paul O’Connell said.
“It was a fabulous reception from the fans and we’ve got a great home crowd here.
“They will have felt the disappointment of two weeks ago so it was very important to put on a big performance.
“By and large, I thought it was a good performance.
“It was a great to play and a really tough game especially in the first half before we cut loose in the second half.”
Friday night’s game was an emotional one for several Munster players who are now departing the province.
These players include Frankie Sheahan, Anthony Horgan, Mike Prendergast, Federico Pucciariello, Rua Tipoki, John O’Sullivan and Kieran Lewis.
Munster have also received the ‘Best Supported Team’ award in this season’s Magners League. The province sold more than 160,000 tickets for their nine home Magners League games this season, five of which were staged at Thomond Park and four at Musgrave Park.
Munster’s average ticket sales reached almost 18,000, moving the province into the top three best-supported teams in European rugby leagues.
Just Stade Francais and Toulouse attract more supporters to their home domestic league games.
Meanwhile Declan Kidney’s Ireland side, who face Canada and the USA in full internationals in Vancouver and California respectively over the next two weekends, will play three home games in the Guinness November series later this year.
Ireland will face Australia at Croke Park on Sunday, November 15 at 3pm, before hosting Fiji at the RDS on Saturday, November 21 at 5.15pm.
Ireland then complete their programme of November matches when World champions South Africa visit Croke Park on Saturday, November 28 at 2.30pm.

Colm Kinsella

Kidney selectrs touring party

THE Limerick duo of Sean Cronin and Keith Matthews will be hoping to win their first full international caps when Ireland face Canada and the USA in two end-of-season internationals later this month - Cronin and Matthews, both playing with Connacht, have been included in Declan Kidney’s 25-strong squad for the games with Canada in Vancouver on May 23 and the USA in California on May 31.


While several players are being rested for the tour, 12 capped players are named in the travelling party including Eoin Reddan and Munster stars Peter Stringer, Mick O’Driscoll and Denis Leamy. Munster flanker Niall Ronan and winger Ian Dowling are two other uncapped players who will be hoping to make their full international debuts during the tour. Munster props John Hayes and Marcus Horan are being rested and will not travel on the tour.
Meanwhile hooker Sean Cronin and centre Keith Matthews are just two of several players who have also been selected in the Ireland A squad for next month’s Churchill Cup in Colarado.
The tournament includes teams from Argentina, USA, Canada, Georgia and the England Saxons and will see Ireland A play pool games against Canada and Georgia as well as a final game in the tournament playoffs.
Bruff referee George Clancy has been appointed to take charge of this season’s European Challenge Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bourgoin at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, May 22. Clancy was promoted to the IRB’s High Performance panel in November and took charge of France’s RBS Six nations Championship clash with Scotland at the Stade de France earlier this season.
Munster’s Alan Quinlan is due to appear before an independent Disciplinary Committee in Dublin tomorrow as a result of a citing arising from the Heineken Cup semi-final match against Leinster.
The citing lodged by the Citing Commissioner for the match, John Byett is for alleged contact with the eye/eye area of Leinster player Leo Cullen in contravention of Law 10.4 (k). The independent Disciplinary Committee will be chaired by Roger Morris (Wales) and also comprise Simon Thomas (Wales) and Mike Hamlin (England).
Munster rugby will come under the spotlight in the Setanta Ireland series Sports Matters tonight at 10pm.
The programme, which begins with a short film entitled Alone it Brands, will discuss how Munster rugby has developed its strong brand identity and huge fan base.

Ireland Tour Squad (25): Rory Best (Ulster) Captain, Tony Buckley (Munster), Ryan Caldwell (Ulster), Bob Casey (London Irish), Darren Cave (Ulster), Tom Court (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Connacht), Ian Dowling (Munster), Gavin Duffy (Connacht), Chris Henry (Ulster), Denis Hurley (Munster), Ian Keatley (Connacht), Denis Leamy (Munster), Keith Matthews (Connacht), John Muldoon (Connacht), Barry Murphy (Munster), Niall O’Connor (Ulster), Mick O’Driscoll (Munster), Eoin Reddan (London Wasps), Niall Ronan (Munster), Mike Ross (Harlequins), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Bryan Young (Ulster)

Ireland A Churchill Cup Squad (27): John Andress (Exeter Chiefs), Neil Best (Northampton Saints), Isaac Boss (Ulster), Tony Buckley (Munster), Fionn Carr (Connacht), Sean Cronin (Connacht), James Downey (Northampton Saints), Dennis Fogarty (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Trevor Hogan (Leinster), Denis Hurley (Munster), Felix Jones (Leinster), Simon Keogh (Leinster), Keith Matthews (Connacht), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), John Muldoon (Connacht) Captain, Frank Murphy (Connacht), Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Niall O’Connor (Ulster), Ed O’Donoghue (Ulster), Niall Ronan (Munster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Devon Toner (Leinster), Bryan Young (Ulster).

Irish Tour Schedule: Depart Sunday May 17 for Canada. Canada v Ireland, Saturday May 23, 2pm (local time), Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver. USA v Ireland, Sunday May 31, 2pm (local time), Buckshaw Stadium, Santa Clara, California.

Churchill Cup Schedule: Ireland A v Canada, Wednesday, June 10, 4.30pm (local time), Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado. Georgia v Ireland A, Sunday June 14, 3.30pm (local time) Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado. Finals Day, Sunday June 21, Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado.

Colm Kinsella

The best Irish athletes are of Saxon stock?

Seldom has a newspaper article written in praise of a rugby team gained such a diverse response.
In the wake of Ireland’s victory over Italy The Guardian recently carried a piece entitled the ‘Long wait could be over for resurgent Ireland’, which was also posted on the newspaper website.
Comment on the piece was encouraged and a deluge of it followed.
Contributors had a field day and while there were many who wrote agreeing with the contents of the piece one contributor ‘FrederickChicester’ took grave exception.
Part of his contribution read: “The Irish have no chance whatever of winning the Grand Slam. I expect them to lose to England and lose to Wales.
“The optimism about their chances is risible.
“To read the Irish press, one would think it was they, and not Wales, who had won two Grand Slams in the previous three years. . .
“I expect England to be faster and stronger than the Irish.
“The days of Ireland taking advantage of England teams battered by a Premiership game the week before (as they did two years ago) are gone. . .”
In a second contribution ‘Frederick’ wrote: “It is disappointing that the board’s resident Irish posters cannot engage in reasoned debate rather than respond vituperatively in a fit of pique.
“Emotion does not aid the search for truth. . .
“Let us consider a few facts pertinent to any analysis of the Irish team: [1] They have never, in their entire history, beaten the All Blacks. [2] The best team in Irish rugby history (apparently) failed abjectly at the World Cup, and was beaten up in contact not just by the French and Argentines, but even by the Georgians and Namibians.
“[3] Every time an Irish player is asked to make the step up to true world class, he fails abjectly. [4] The Irish, genetically, are not large men, as any Irish under-age or forwards coach would be happy to inform you. It is interesting that the best Irish athletes are of Saxon stock.
“[5] There are certain individuals in the Irish team who, contrary to myth, would not get anywhere near the English or French or Welsh teams.
“It is my contention that the Irish are simply not that good. They over-achieve to a startling extent with Munster because of their superb team spirit and family atmosphere.”
I wonder if ‘Frederick’ will make the trip across to Dublin this weekend for the big Six Nations clash at Croke Park on Saturday.
His contribution to the Guardian website next week are awaited with interest.

Colm Kinsella