Kidney counts on clear head to find magic number

DECLAN KIDNEY, inthe company of his coaching assistants, spent most of yesterday making the final adjustments to his Rugby World Cup squad, completing a measured process that wasn’t fuelled by last-minute panic or even altogether influenced by the results of the last three weeks. Adrenaline, he said in the aftermath of the 22-26 loss to France, is for the players.

How big a weighting would recent results and performances have in terms of selection? “Well, they have a weighting in terms that we live in the now, but it’s very important after matches to let the adrenaline slow down and put all the factors into your head,” he said.

“Sometimes when you’re tied up with a game you can make decisions fuelled on pure adrenaline; whereas the players have to do that on the pitch, there’s no need for us to do it, we will take some hours, have a look at the videos and come up with the best balance.”