Kidney allays O’Brien injury fears

DECLAN Kidney has poured cold water on concerns European player of the year Sean O’Brien could be ruled out of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup opener next month through injury.

The Leinster flanker suffered a bang on the knee during the second-half of Ireland’s warm-up defeat to France at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday, prompting speculation the 24-year-old would miss the September 11 Pool C opener against the US.

O’Brien was on full view yesterday at the Aviva as the Ireland squad was put through its paces in front of around 7,000 fans during an open training session. While Kidney has left him out of the match-day squad to face England he said the medial ligament damage sustained had not removed him from contention to face the Eagles in New Plymouth.