Kidney goes without Sexton for Ireland’s clash with Canucks

LEINSTER’S Heineken Cup hero, Jonathan Sexton, is a notable absentee from the Ireland A side that faces Canada in the 2009 Churchill Cup at Denver, Colorado tomorrow (4.30pm local time, 11.30pm Irish time).

Sexton’s superb performances against Munster and Leicester Tigers in the latter stages of the Heineken Cup made him a leading contender to back-up Ireland’s number one fly-half, Ronan O’Gara, next season.

The Leinster No 10 is in desperate need of exposure in the international arena to make him a viable alternative to O’Gara, but head coach Declan Kidney has slowed that progression by making the odd decision to install Niall O’Connor instead at out-half. Sexton is included on the bench, but is likely to start against Georgia on Sunday.