Ireland boss offers Buckley, Hayes the stick and carrot

THE absence of Ireland’s birthday boy John Hayes from the squad to meet South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday suggests the veteran prop forward has come to the end of an illustrious career.

But that implication was denounced emphatically yesterday by Irish coach Declan Kidney, who reckons Hayes will build on his 102 cap total built up over a decade of huge achievement.

From a rugby perspective, Munster and Irish powerhouse Hayes didn’t have much to celebrate on his 37th birthday yesterday other than to take stock of Kidney’s promise that he remained firmly in his plans for the remainder of the season and through, form permitting, to the World Cup in New Zealand next September.

His successor, Tony Buckley, has made the natural progression into the team as Ireland’s tight-head prop for this match against the reigning world champions.

Tom Court is named in the reserves on the basis he can play both sides of the scrum, but Hayes has been guaranteed a place in Ireland’s immediate future plans, according to the coach.

Kidney acknowledged that Buckley represented the smarter long-term bet going forward: “Tony got a break on the tour (summer), I thought he took it very well and has backed that up with a few good performances.

“I would also say, however, that John was unfortunate that he fell ill at the start of that tour and didn’t get his energy back so didn’t have a go. Yet, he has taken his opportunities since he came back and played 80 minutes at the weekend, played 80 minutes in a Munster/Leinster match and is still very much in our plans.

“For Tony, it’s not so much about this season but the progress in his whole career; you’re hoping for him because he has now played against Australia, New Zealand and is starting against South Africa. As a player you always want to pitch yourself against the best and that’s what he will be up against on Saturday. Hopefully, he will take his opportunity.

“We were fortunate that we got to work with Tony at the Churchill Cup in America and Canada (season before last) when he got a string of five games. For a big man like that you need to get that type of motoring around the place; he was getting better and better as each game went on, got more game time last season and things finished up well for him.

“You could say he was a bit of a late bloomer but John (Hayes) hasn’t made it easy for him to get his place. It’s my job to select a lot of good players who give great service to Ireland and will continue to give great service to Ireland over the next 12 months. This is not the end for John Hayes, definitely not; that’s why I brought up the (recent) matches he has featured in for 80 minutes.

“One has to look at our situation because in the Magners League and Heineken Cup you have 23 togging out, so most props haven’t been getting 80 minutes. We have 22, so the guy who has 80 minutes under his belt is obviously in a good place as well in the fact that he has shown he can do it. John has certainly done that.”

Kidney explained the rationale behind selecting Court by saying he too has been going the 80 minutes, but that he should bring an element of versatility to the squad.

“I think he has had three games on the tight and three on the loose (head) and that’s been an advantage to him because he has been the one prop around the country that got time on both sides. In a 22-man squad where you only carry one prop substitute then that is crucial.”