Time to blow off the cobwebs

Rather like a particularly tedious season of Big Brother, the reality show that is Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign in 2012 is desperately in need of some action.

After the flurry and controversy of the opening game against Wales, the contestants have been unusually idle and after week four in the house, Declan Kidney will allow them to get rid of the pent-up frustration simmering since that late postponement in Paris 10 days ago.

With Italy coming to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, Ireland head coach Kidney yesterday named the same matchday XV and replacements that 10 days ago were pumped and primed to take on France, only to have the opportunity to unleash their energies stymied by the frozen tundra of the Stade de France. It has left the 15 players who were due to start on that icy Saturday night without any competitive outlet in three weeks and with only one match under their belts – the 23-21 defeat to Wales – in the last five.