Barnes: Irish may rue national priority

SKY SPORTS pundit Stuart Barnes yesterday questioned Ireland’s philosophy of country above province as the 2011 World Cup looms.

Former England and Lions out-half Barnes said he has a problem with rugby being run just for the benefit of international teams and suggested if Ireland had a poor World Cup in New Zealand next year, the support base could be compromised.

“I would worry Munster and Leinster start to struggle because Declan (Kidney) and his team were making decisions that aren’t (still) going to take Ireland beyond a quarter-final. Long term, and in the same way you might take footballers out of the Premiership clubs before a World Cup because England put all the resources into that competition and then cock up as they always do, it mightn’t be the best way to go about it.