Kidney left with more walking wounded

THE result was disappointing, but Declan Kidney’s had other more pressing concerns last night as the Irish party prepared for their departure on a three match tour of New Zealand and Australia today.

In the space of a disastrous 80 minutes, injury wise, Kidney has lost three of his first choice 33-man squad, with Jerry Flannery sustaining a calf muscle strain, Shane Horgan laid low with a mystery stomach ailment and Fergus McFadden ruled out with a suspected broken jaw.

Johne Murphy, who replaced Horgan on the wing for last night’s match, will travel with the party and Kidney hopes Horgan can follow. Damien Varley will come in for the unfortunate Flannery and Kidney is likely to wait until today to name a replacement for McFadden.