Ireland XV v Russia, Rotorua, Sunday, 6am)

Kayless

GERRY THORNLEY, Rugby Correspondent, in Rotorua

WORLD CUP POOL C: UNLIKE FOUR years ago, this truly will be a squad effort. Admittedly, the win over Australia has afforded Declan Kidney more room for manoeuvre than was the case in France, but even so the Irish coach has made nine changes in personnel and one positional switch for Sunday’s game against Russia (kick-off 6pm local time/6am Irish time) in Rotorua. This time everyone is contributing and feels like part of the effort.

Indeed, about the only surprise is that Kidney perhaps didn’t go a tad further. In any event, Fergus McFadden, Paddy Wallace, Isaac Boss, Seán Cronin and Leo Cullen, all make their first appearances of the tournament, as will the hitherto unused replacement Donnacha Ryan, while Andrew Trimble, Ronan O’Gara and Tony Buckley are promoted for their first starts.

The need for game time sees Rob Kearney, Cian Healy, Seán O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip retained, and thus Heaslip, along with Donncha O’Callaghan and Keith Earls (who switches to outside centre) are the only players being asked to start all three pool games thus far.

In all of this, Kidney acknowledged the need to “freshen things up”, adding: “We had a big Test match last Saturday and so bringing the few extra bodies into it from the American game into the Australian game brought an injection of enthusiasm into the training and everything else, and we managed to do that on Tuesday and Wednesday when the lads coming in bring a freshness and enthusiasm.”

Another positive aspect of a “tour” type scenario such as this, added Kidney, was that players have been training regularly in camp, are totally focused on the national set-up and know the calls, and therefore the disruption shouldn’t be that significant. Even though players can return to their provinces during the Six Nations, they are also returning to different calls and systems.

In the case of O’Brien, he needs more game time at number seven on foot of David Wallace missing out, whereas there was no need to risk Stephen Ferris again after coming through his two games. “Seán needs the time at seven because it’s a position that the more you play there the better you get, although if he keeps playing like he did the last day I’ll be happy,” admitted Kidney.

Winning, stressed Kidney, was the primary concern. “You go into every match to win it. The fact that we won (against Australia) makes everybody feel that bit better about themselves and it gives you a little bit more momentum, but in actual fact it doesn’t make a bit of difference, because if we don’t win the Italy one we don’t go through anyway.

“Even though Australia was the pool match that everybody wanted to win, Italy is the vital one, and that’s not being rude to Russia. The truth of it is that we can lose to Russia and still go through by beating Italy. If we beat Russia we still have to beat Italy to go through to the pool stages.”

It’s a typical left-field way of Kidney to look at things, for there wouldn’t even appear to be two chances of Ireland losing to Russia (playing their third game in 11 days), whereas a big, bonus-point win could conceivably give Ireland additional elbow room in the final pool game against Italy – ie a bonus-point defeat in Dunedin squeezing Ireland through.

That would be a huge anti-climax now, but at least it could be an insurance policy.

Kidney also stressed that the Italian game did not inform this selection in any way. “But, what has it (the win over Australia) done? It’s just nice to win a match like that, that you weren’t the bookies’ favourites for. But the great thing about it is that there’s enough experience in the group to know that that’s what it was. It was a win in one match that will be handy down the road but we need to back it up.”

Denis Leamy is the only player, apart from late call-up Damien Varley, who has yet to start a game. He is at least on a strong looking bench, along with Shane Jennings, where Kidney has also taken the precaution of having Mike Ross. Against the Russian scrum, which was pulverised by the Italian pack on Tuesday night, that will be a disappointment for Tom Court.

The only players ruled out through injury are Paul O’Connell, Gordon D’Arcy (both hamstrung) and Tommy Bowe, whose calf injury may explain why McFadden starts on the wing, with Earls switching to centre. That said, Kidney didn’t definitely foresee McFadden getting some time in midfield.

There’s an onus on the players coming in to move things on, although the nature of the opposition from last week to this week makes that seem almost impossible. Perhaps seeking to take the pressure off them, Kidney adhered to his old maxim that a 3-0 win would make him happy (even if it assuredly wouldn’t in reality).

“That’s the way I’d see any Test match. Whereas we’re capable of beating Australia, we’re also capable of losing to Russia. We have enough experiences of World Cups now to know there will be no easy match” said Kidney, who made the point that Russia were reeling from the early Italian onslaught, but once they got themselves into the match, scored three tries, which was one more than Ireland managed against Italy last February.

“The way I see any match for us is that it’s just a big challenge and World Cups have shown before than if you go into these matches any way half-cocked it will be a difficult night. We’ve seen that happen us before, but if we approach it properly and get ourselves right then we have the ability to get a result, but I wouldn’t be thinking that we’ll be running away with it.”

IRELAND XV

(v Russia, Rotorua, Sunday, 6.0am)

15 Rob Kearney (Leinster)

14 Fergus McFadden (Leinster)

13 Keith Earls (Munster)

12 Paddy Wallace (Ulster)

11 Andrew Trimble (Ulster)

10 Ronan O’Gara (Munster)

9 Isaac Boss (Leinster)

1 Cian Healy (Leinster)

2 Seán Cronin (Leinster)

3 Tony Buckley (Sale)

4 Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster)

5 Leo Cullen (Leinster, capt)

6 Donnacha Ryan (Munster)

7 Seán O’Brien (Leinster)

8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Replacements : Rory Best (Ulster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester).

thebaz

reasonable team - not sure i would have risked o'brien and healy as starters - hopefully they come through unscathed - court doesnt even make bench ??

Phonehead

Why oh why must we insist on trying Earls at centre when quiet clearly it's a failed experiment. Earls is winger through and through so let's leave Earls (A player who is unbelievably impacted by confidence) in the position where he is most suited.

chupacabra

Dont agree with Earls' selection at 13. How many more times will he be put there before Kidney realizes that he isnt a 13? This was a great opportunity to play McFadden there and see what he is capable of instead of a player who we all know isnt capable of much in the position.

corny

Keith Earls moved around again (try someone else at 13 ffs) and Heaslip playing 4 games in a row are the obvious negatives. The logic for SOB seems sound enough but i wouldn't be giving him more than 55-60 minutes. Last weekends game was a titanic effort. Hopefully the game will be ended as a contest by half time so Murphy, Leamy and Jennings get on.

The likes of Boss, Trimble, ROG and Cronin will be chomping at the bit to make an impression so all in all i'm happy enough with the side. I suspect the Russians really won't be up to much having lost their must win against the States.

chupacabra

duckysauce wrote: »

hmm think kidney knows what he is doing , we beat the Aussies

freyners

Is court injured? can imagine why ross is on the bench otherwise

BarackPyjama

Earls at 13 and McFadden on the wing? My short lived "Ireland have been holding back and Kidney's really an evil genius mastermind" theory was short lived.

Conas

I think that's a good team to put out. He seems to think McFadden is only a winger, very strange to be honest. But during this match he could be switched to the centre anyway. I'm very happy Healy is starting too, and Kidney is 100% correct in starting SOB at 7 to let him play in the position more. Big chance for Buckley at tighthead. All in all a good team that should put 40 on Russia if they all play to their full potential.

Kayless

Conas wrote: »

I think that's a good team to put out. He seems to think McFadden is only a winger, very strange to be honest. But during this match he could be switched to the centre anyway. I'm very happy Healy is starting too, and Kidney is 100% correct in starting SOB at 7 to let him play in the position more. Big chance for Buckley at tighthead. All in all a good team that should put 40 on Russia if they all play to their full potential.

I would've rested Healy for the Italy game

MLC61

Good selection, using the squad fully with cover on the bench. I haven't watched too much of Russia. Only concern, small one, would be the defence with O'Gara, Wallace and Earls in the middle. However presumably we don't expect to have to defend too much. Other than that a strong pack and a strong back 3. Hope both McFadden and Trimble have good games to exert some pressure for a test place.

Uriel.

I can't understand him starting Heaslip. that's gonna be 4 pool matches for him. He's a big player for us and I don't see why he wouldn't be rested.

Would have liked Healy to take a breather as well. And hopefully O'Brien won't play anymore than half a game...

Italy is a big game and it will be followed (hopefully) by monumental games, one after the other...

thebaz

Uriel. wrote: »

I can't understand him starting Heaslip. that's gonna be 4 pool matches for him. He's a big player for us and I don't see why he wouldn't be rested.

I would think it is a form thing - heaslip has been out of sorts , especially for his high standards - heaslip at 100 % and Ireland should really go far !!

Otacon

Happy enough with the squad myself.

I think the fact that Murphy is on the bench could see him coming on for Earls, with McFadden moving to 13 at 50 minutes. We will see.

As for the Heaslip selection, I think he still needs to regain his form. He had very little time in the warm-ups to get up to speed and needs all the games he can get. Think Kearney is in a similar situation, though without the same lack of form.

Hopefully Wallace shines. We will need him if D'Arcy does not come back into form.

JR1234

Its's definitely a risk Playing O'Brien and Healy (2 very big platforms for attach in the Irish Side) in a match that should be straight forward enough. Would have liked to see Court start to bring him on a bit. I think the bench will be fully used against russia anyway. The full strength side v italy

Funk It

Its all good saying that we should be resting O'Brien and Healy, but we need to win this game in order to leave us in the position to top the group and book a QF with Wales (or the small possibility of Samoa).

Just don't want to see Russia push this Ireland side close in a game which we should be winning comfortably. I don't think is it a case of throwing on any Irish XV and expecting a win in this game, take nothing for granted. Australia took apart a USA team which gave us trouble and stopped us from getting a bonus point, Russia will see their opportunity on Sunday. O'Brien and Healy could prove to be devastating runners against Russia.

This is still a good Irish side, McFadden had a case to be a starting centre and Trimble has put his hand up for a starting position on the wing.

MungBean

Funk It wrote: »

Its all good saying that we should be resting O'Brien and Healy, but we need to win this game in order to leave us in the position to top the group and book a QF with Wales (or the small possibility of Samoa).

Just don't want to see Russia push this Ireland side close in a game which we should be winning comfortably. I don't think is it a case of throwing on any Irish XV and expecting a win in this game, take nothing for granted. Australia took apart a USA team which gave us trouble and stopped us from getting a bonus point, Russia will see their opportunity on Sunday. O'Brien and Healy could prove to be devastating runners against Russia.

This is still a good Irish side, McFadden had a case to be a starting centre and Trimble has put his hand up for a starting position on the wing.

That USA team wasnt the team that played us, its a second string team. And Australia were extremely poor and didnt take them apart until the latter stages of the game, so considering it was a second string of an amateur side its nothing to applaud Australia for.

And Australia also picked up quite a few injuries in that game. The last thing Ireland needs is for their starting players to get injured in a scrappy match against poor opposition. We have a 30 man squad and need to trust players against the likes of Russia the same way we trust others against the bigger teams.

SoulRock

whats the story again with RTE Coverage?? the Delay in audio is terrible

puntosporting

I turned over to setanta was wrecking my head!