Unchanged team reflects Kidney’s thinking

THIS time there were no really hard calls, allowing Declan Kidney to announce an unchanged Ireland team to take on Wales at Croke Park next Saturday.

He looked at full-back and out-half but found no reason to omit Geordan Murphy and Jonathan Sexton who performed so solidly in the win over England.

There is the consolation for Rob Kearney to be included in the squad, having been sidelined by a knee injury at Twickenham. However, for Ronan O’Gara, there is the frustration of warming the bench on the day his great friend and long-time teammate Brian O’Driscoll, is picking up his 100th cap.