Cronin seizes the day

DO NOT tell Sean Cronin this weekend’s World Cup pool game against Russia doesn’t matter.

Like the eight other new faces selected by Declan Kidney for the Ireland team this week, there is plenty at stake, both for player and country, but especially country.

There is no after the Lord Mayor’s Show mentality about tomorrow’s match, even if the wider perception is that a quarter-final place is a done deal following that memorable victory over Australia last Saturday. Far from it. Cronin would not be the first player to point out that the Eden Park performance will count for nought if the squad does not deliver two further wins in Pool C.