O’Gara and Murray get nod

MUNSTER half-backs Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray have been charged with steering Ireland into the World Cup quarter-finals, but Declan Kidney was waiting on the fitness of Paul O’Connell and Tommy Bowe before finalising his team to start against Italy on Sunday.

Ireland face their Six Nations rivals at the Otago Stadium with the winner advancing to the last eight.

O’Connell and Bowe have been suffering from hamstring and calf strains respectively since the 15-6 win over Australia two Saturdays ago and sat out last Sunday’s 62-12 thumping of Russia in Rotorua. While both were favourites to be passed fit, Kidney thought it prudent to wait as long as possible before confirming their participation.