Kidney facing a selection headache

INJURIES to several players mean Declan Kidney will have a tougher than usual task in naming his side to play France in the RBS Six Nations at the Stade de France on Saturday at lunchtime today.

Although the likelihood is Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell, both of whom were injured in the win over Italy on Saturday, will be declared fit, there is a doubt about left-wing Andrew Trimble, while Donncha O’Callaghan and Stephen Ferris, both of whom missed out last week, will be closely monitored at training this morning before any definite decision can be made.

Irish team announcements continue to arouse tremendous interest among the rugby public. This time last week, almost all of the speculation centred on the out-half position. Would it be Ronan O’Gara or Jonathan Sexton? Injury to the Leinster number 10 put an end to that debate and after O’Gara’s excellent performance against Italy, and regardless of Sexton’s availability, the issue has been put to bed for now.