Kidney trusting same 15 for Wales clash

DECLAN KIDNEY last night stuck with Munster half-backs Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray as he named what he hopes will remain an unchanged side for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Wales.

Ireland’s head coach will give first-choice hooker Rory Best the maximum available time, until 48 hours before kick-off on Saturday at 6.30am Irish time, to recover from a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder.

Leinster’s Sean Cronin is set to deputise in the front row if Best fails to be passed fit with Damien Varley ready to take Cronin’s place on the bench and Mike Sherry set to fly to Wellington tomorrow as precautionary cover.