Testing times begin for Kidney

DECLAN KIDNEY has called an end to his Ireland squad-building in time to test the quality of his player pool in the upcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship.

After spending two years assembling an extended group of men he can trust to take Ireland into September’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the current crop of injuries to senior squad members such as Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney, Geordan Murphy and, possibly, Tommy Bowe means Kidney will see just how deep his playing strength goes during the next six weeks.

With Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome eight days away, the national team coach confirmed yesterday during the tournament’s launch in London that he will choose his World Cup squad from the players on duty for the next two months.