Strength in depth will be put to the test

IF rugby matches were played on paper, few would give the Irish team much of a chance against the Barbarians in tonight’s game at Thomond Park.

Whereas Declan Kidney has chosen what can only be described as a scratch Irish XV, the Baa-Baas 22 is laden down with some of the brightest talents in the game.

Players like Cedric Haymans, Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde, Pierre Mignoni, Byron Kelleher, George Smith, Xavier Rush, Rodney So’oialo, Martyn Williams and Jerome Thion, to name but a few, have been enthralling and exciting rugby crowds the world over for many years.