Munster pack must rediscover lost hunger

I HAVE no doubt when Declan Kidney finalised his squad for the autumn internationals last Sunday he was aware the World Cup final in Eden Park, Auckland was exactly two years away to the weekend.

On October 23, 2011 a new champion will be inaugurated. The planning for Ireland to contest that decider has started in earnest.

Between now and then Kidney has the major task of carrying Ireland’s Grand Slam winning form into a testing autumn series of games on successive weekends against Australia, Fiji and world champions South Africa. He also has the luxury of running the rule over an extended squad of players with A internationals against Tonga and Argentina.