Kidney without some big guns for opening salvo
As expected, loosehead prop Cian Healy has been deemed “unlikely to play” in New Plymouth and though Declan Kidney should otherwise have a full complement to choose from there could well be other players wrapped in cotton wool ahead of the second game on September 17 against Tri Nations champions Australia.
Kidney announces his side to face the Eagles in the early hours of tomorrow morning (Irish time), and after a disappointing series of warm-ups in August needs his team to deliver a statement of intent against the Americans.
His wish to field his strongest team, however, will not be possible with front-row linchpin Healy, to name but one, just off the plane following his delayed departure from Ireland last weekend due to an eye socket injury sustained against England on August 27.
Having arrived on Monday afternoon, local time, Healy needed time to recover from the lengthy journey while the nature of his injury has also worked against him. The Leinster prop only took part in a light, non-contact session on Tuesday while the rest of the squad underwent its first big training session in Queenstown.
And with Healy looking to have run out of time to be ready to face Eddie O’Sullivan’s side, that opens the way for Ulster’s Tom Court to get the nod to start in Stadium Taranaki.
Inside-centre is another area of concern with the incumbent Gordon D’Arcy also a late arrival alongside Healy. He has not been ruled out and was reported to be fine after playing a limited part in Tuesday’s training session, while also rehabbing his strained calf. Fergus McFadden, D’Arcy’s deputy at Leinster, appears to be in line to take the number 12 jersey in his absence and line up with captain Brian O’Driscoll outside him in midfield. Full-back Rob Kearney (groin) and loose forward Sean O’Brien (knee) both took a full part in training but both could be rested if they are anything less than 100% fit, with Geordan Murphy and Stephen Ferris primed for more game time in their respective positions as they continue their own return form long-term injuries.
Second-row Leo Cullen welcomed the increase in intensity after four days in Queenstown spent shaking off jet lag.
“We’re into a normal match week now and there’s definitely a big step up,” said Cullen. “We’re doing our normal match-week preparation and there’s a shift in everyone’s minds. We’re looking forward to the challenge at the weekend.”
There is a clean bill of health for Ireland’s three scrum-halves, with Eoin Reddan looking to hold off Leinster teammate Isaac Boss and Munster’s bolter Conor Murray for the number nine jersey at this World Cup.
Boss, from Tokoroa, about 40 kilometres from Rotorua, where Ireland will face Russia in their third game, acknowledged Reddan was in the driving seat but pledged to try and win over the selectors.
“‘Reds’ is probably in a bit of a different situation, he’s had more starts than us but he knows we’re nipping at his heels and trying to get in front of him,” Boss said. “You get any opportunity you’ve got to make the most of it. That’s the way I work and fingers crossed we can get an opportunity.”
Boss, who won 12 of his 14 caps under O’Sullivan, is used to battling it out with Reddan at provincial level, having left Ulster to join Leinster.
“Being in that pressure cooker situation every week, fighting with Redser for that position has put me in good stead and made me a better player and enabled me to get back into the green jersey. That doesn’t stop here, it just gets more competitive from here.”
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