Buckley eager to show his credentials

FOLLOWING Mike Ross into the number three jersey after such a heroic effort against Australia may be a hard act to follow but Tony Buckley would be delighted to get the opportunity.

Buckley, who joined Sale in the summer from Munster, is set to get the tight head’s role in the Ireland front row for Sunday’s Pool C match against Russia in Rotorua and he is eager to prove his worth after some stinging criticism over his inclusion in Declan Kidney’s 30-man squad.

Still, after the way the front row of Cian Healy, Rory Best and Ross dominated their Wallabies counterparts in Saturday’s 15-6 victory at Eden Park, he will join a scrummaging unit for which the bar has been set extremely high.