Game-time shortage not a problem, insists Flannery

JERRY FLANNERY might be somewhat short of game time, but he has no worries about his ability to stand up to Italy when Ireland open their defence of the RBS Six Nations title at Croke Park today (2.30pm).

In an era when training is conducted at such a high intensity, Flannery believes a week in the company of the Irish squad was at least as beneficial as having a run with Ireland A when they took on the England Saxons last week.

Irish coach Declan Kidney resisted the temptation to throw Flannery into action for that game, instead keeping him in Dublin, and Flannery agrees that it was probably the better of two options.