It’s eight years since Greg Feek plugged himself into the mainframe of Irish rugby but the Kiwi scrum coach wasn’t exactly in the mood to measure his input as he pulled up a pew ahead of Saturday’s game against Argentina.

Most players view the approach of retirement with dread.

I couldn’t believe my ears listening to Pat Rabbitte on the radio recently.

HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Ireland’s problems at tighthead prop and the lack of strength in depth in other sectors have long since exercised the mind but rarely has there been a shortage quite like that at 15 ahead of next month’s international window.

Danny Cipriani was Sale’s hero as the Premiership strugglers overturned a 15-point deficit to gain a dramatic, morale-boosting 34-33 triumph over Cardiff on their return to the Heineken Cup.

Sale 34 Cardiff 33

The Ireland squad received a major boost yesterday with the news that first-choice tighthead prop Mike Ross is winning his race to be fit for next Saturday’s crunch second-test in Christchurch.

Gavin Duffy has been called up to the Irish squad after Keith Earls was ruled out of Saturday’s second test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Those who believe Declan Kidney will be quickly able to find alternatives and back-up support for Cian Healy, Mike Ross and Tom Court, the trio who have carried the scrummaging responsibilities throughout the RBS 6 Nations Championship, will have to think again.

To beat England at any level it is imperative that you match them in the set piece.

I WOKE on Monday morning without a tricolour, an Irish jersey or a Munster top to be seen anywhere.

MUNSTER half-backs Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray have been charged with steering Ireland into the World Cup quarter-finals, but Declan Kidney was waiting on the fitness of Paul O’Connell and Tommy Bowe before finalising his team to start against Italy on Sunday.

THERE will be a reunion of sorts when Ireland and Italy’s front rows lock horns on Sunday and Irish scrum coach Greg Feek expects his band of brothers to present a much improved challenge to the one the Azzurri faced in Rome eight months ago.

FROM the sublime to the Soviets.

The dust had barely settled on Ireland’s 62-12 demolition of Russia before Declan Kidney turned his attention to next Sunday’s critical World Cup clash with Italy.

Stand-in captain Leo Cullen admitted Russia posed Ireland “a lot of problems” despite the wide margin of their 62-12 World Cup Pool C win.

Ireland 62 Russia 12

Ireland 36 Russia 0

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has rested some senior players for Sunday’s Pool C clash against Russia.

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney last night made nine changes to the team which started the famous World Cup victory against Australia for this Sunday’s Pool C clash with minnows Russia.

Tony Buckley insists a run of games would help solve one of the great enigmas of Irish rugby.

FOLLOWING Mike Ross into the number three jersey after such a heroic effort against Australia may be a hard act to follow but Tony Buckley would be delighted to get the opportunity.

IT’S on occasions such as these that people like Declan Kidney realise that their day’s work is never really done!

DECLAN KIDNEY has welcomed back his big guns from injury for Ireland’s pivotal World Cup Pool C clash with Australia this Saturday, and also reunited Leinster out-halves Eoin Reddan and Jonny Sexton.

Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy should be available to face Australia on Saturday despite suffering a hamstring strain.

IRELAND’S preparations for Saturday’s showdown with Pool C favourites Australia have been boosted by the return to fitness of prop Cian Healy.

Ireland may have made a faltering start to the World Cup but manager Paul McNaughton insists they still have the capacity to stun Australia.

ABSOLUTELY sensational — and that was just the opening ceremony.

Ireland prop Cian Healy has been ruled out of Sunday’s World Cup opener against the USA in New Plymouth.

Sean O’Brien has vowed to continue flattening opponents at the World Cup, declaring: “If there’s no hole, I’ll make one.”

NEXT Friday Declan Kidney will name the 22-man squad to face USA in the World Cup opener in New Plymouth and will seek a massive improvement from the demoralising warm-up games.

DECLAN Kidney has poured cold water on concerns European player of the year Sean O’Brien could be ruled out of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup opener next month through injury.

COACHES might not like it but the reality is, when they name squads, it is always the people that fail to make them that gain the lion’s share of the attention.

AS always in these circumstances the discussion revolves as much around those unfortunate enough not to make the cut as those that do.

THE FOREMOST emotion on occasions like this is one of sympathy for those who have missed out on selection.

Geordan Murphy was today named in Ireland’s World Cup squad just 48 hours after being resigned to missing out.

Luke Fitzgerald, Tomás O'Leary and John Hayes have been left out of the 30-man squad named by Declan Kidney this lunchtime to travel to the World Cup in New Zealand.

Declan Kidney has defended the fixture list that threatens to send Ireland into the World Cup full of apprehension.

NO major alarms, no serious injuries, six tries scored and none conceded.

Brian O’Driscoll will lead Ireland in Saturday’s clash with France at the Aviva Stadium.

IF you were Peter Stringer, 33 years of age, within two matches of your 100th international cap and looking forward avidly to a third Rugby World Cup, what would you have made of last week’s developments?

Mike Ross believes Ireland will put in a stronger 80 minutes against the French in the Aviva next weekend having learnt lessons from Saturday night’s defeat in Bordeaux.

THIS is a time to accentuate the positives and from an Irish perspective there were plenty of those to cling to despite a second defeat in a row for a team struggling to find its feet with the World Cup looming.

LEO CULLEN gets another crack at captaining Ireland when Declan Kidney’s outfit switch from the rain of Edinburgh to the good weather in Bordeaux tomorrow night.

Declan Kidney has picked a strong team to face France in Ireland's second World Cup warm-up match in Bordeaux on Saturday night.

DECLAN KIDNEY was correct in arranging a number of matches prior to the World Cup.

DRAWING comparisons at this early stage of the season is a bit unfair but anyone who tuned in to the Tri Nations contest between New Zealand and Australia on Saturday morning before Ireland’s clash at Murrayfield would have felt they were watching a different sport.

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney yesterday backed newcomer Mike McCarthy to make a big impact in his international test debut against Scotland tomorrow.

Ireland will keep a close eye on their trio of returning front line internationals when they meet Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.