Horan in Irish squad despite health fears
Horan, 32, was forced to retire after 16 minutes of Munster’s Heineken Cup clash with Treviso last Saturday week complaining of dizziness. The cause of the problem has yet to be diagnosed with the result he has been ruled out of Munster’s Magners League game against Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday.
Kidney included Horan in his squad as a matter of form but Munster manager Shaun Payne admits the situation concerning the player’s well being is still unclear.
“There’s still no definitive answer on Marcus,” he said. “There’s something obviously wrong there. He had a viral infection and suffered bouts of dizziness. He is having further tests after the tests conducted this week.It has obviously been a tough couple of weeks for him and he’s very worried. Hopefully, he’ll leave all that behind very soon and he’ll have answers.”
Unsurprisingly, Kidney has kept trust with the majority of those who helped to create history last season by completing the Grand Slam for the first time in 61 years although three of the 22 in the decisive game against Wales in Cardiff are omitted. Geordan Murphy and Rory Best, who both came in as replacements that day, are on the long-term injury list, while no place has been found for Munster second-row Mick O’Driscoll.
Predictably, a few players who have inspired Ulster to some impressive early season victories have been called up, most notably number 8 Chris Henry, while Connacht will be pleased at the recognition for their young hooker Sean Cronin and prop Brett Wilkinson.
Given Fergus McFadden is the only uncapped member of the back division suggests Kidney sees no reason just yet to interfere with those who did him so proudly last season.
Less happy will be fans of Leinster back-row forward Kevin McLaughlin, who has turned in a series of fine performances after taking over the number 6 jersey from Rocky Elsom.
And another surprise absentee is Ulster out-half Ian Humphreys, who has had an excellent season so far. Among other notables to miss out are Leinster veterans Malcolm O’Kelly and Girvan Dempsey, hooker Bernard Jackman and the suspended Shane Jennings, along with the Munster quartet of Alan Quinlan, Ian Dowling, Denis Fogarty and Niall Ronan.
However, with three Test matches against Australia, Fiji and South Africa on the November schedule, along with A games against Tonga and Argentina Jaguars, Kidney will need to go outside his nominated 39 to fulfil the five fixtures so some of the disappointed ones may yet have the chance to catch the coach’s eye.
“We had an opportunity to work with most of the players selected in this squad over our three camps during the summer,” said the coach last night. “Those sessions were about giving chances to as many players as possible following last year and after a third of the season gone so far, this November squad gives the majority of those players a chance to put their cases forward for selection.
“November represents a challenge on several fronts with three full internationals and two A games against quality opposition, so it will mean that the strength of our resources will be tested.
“The games so far this season have given plenty of options in terms of competition for places. There were some hard calls made in selection, which is what you want, and players not included today will come into the reckoning for the two games against Tonga and Argentina Jaguars.
“We now have to try and come up with the combinations to not only win against some of the best teams in the world, with two of those sides ranked above us, but also continue to develop the international experience levels for some of those players.”
An A squad for the Tonga game at Ravenhill on Friday, November 13 and a 30 man squad for the Australia test match at Croke Park two days will be announced at the end of next week’s camp in Limerick.
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