Toner backed to shoulder lineout burden

IRELAND debutant Devin Toner has been backed to successfully lead his country’s lineout out of the abyss into which it sank last weekend when Samoa come to the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

The 6ft 10 Leinster lock will not just earn his first international cap but lead the lineout against Samoa as he and Munster’s Donncha O’Callaghan, with a new three-year contract yesterday, as well as Connacht hooker Sean Cronin bid to erase a nightmare set-piece performance last Saturday when Ireland succumbed to defeat against South Africa.

Toner replaces Mick O’Driscoll while Cronin comes in for Rory Best following a series of botched throws and ill-judged calls that were pounced on eagerly by the Springboks’ Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith.