August hurt is Kidney’s stimulus

DECLAN KIDNEY wants to use the pain of August’s four Test defeats to motivate Ireland as his squad switches into cup rugby mode ahead of next week’s World Cup opener.

Happily ensconced in their pre-tournament base in the resort town of Queenstown following their arrival on Thursday, Kidney and his coaching staff have implemented a swift change of gear to Ireland’s build-up to the first Pool C encounter against the United States a week tomorrow in New Plymouth.

A line has been drawn under last month’s four straight warm-up Test defeats, to Scotland, France twice and England, but the Ireland coach does not want them forgotten completely.