House of pain after World Cup cull

HAVING visited Carton House in recent weeks, where the Ireland rugby team has been stationed for its pre-World Cup training, I can say this.

It’s a beautiful place for an execution.

This morning a few players will see their World Cup dreams perish in a brutal scene, as Declan Kidney shakes his head in brisk, business-like meetings: pack your bags son, you’re off, and not to the land of the Long White Cloud.