IRELAND coach Declan Kidney urged his players not to be too despondent after they endured a frustrating Setanta Challenge Cup encounter with the USA in California on Sunday night.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney urged his players not to be too despondent after they endured a frustrating Setanta Challenge Cup encounter with the USA in Santa Clara, California.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has played down talk of personal rivalry between himself and his predecessor, new USA coach Eddie O’Sullivan, ahead of their sides’ meeting in Santa Clara, California tomorrow.

Eddie O’Sullivan and Declan Kidney, Irish rugby’s two most successful coaches of the professional era, will go head to head in Santa Clara, California on Sunday as a youthful Ireland wind up their summer tour against O’Sullivan’s USA Eagles.