Kiss backs McFadden to deliver

Ireland’s coaching staff are backing Fergus McFadden to comfortably fill the breach created by the late withdrawal of Keith Earls from Ireland’s starting line-up to face Wales tomorrow.

Earls’ week-old daughter Ella-Maye was readmitted to hospital last Wednesday and Ireland head coach Declan Kidney moved swiftly to ensure the Munster player was with his partner Edel McGee and their first child in Limerick.

Leinster’s McFadden, initially named on the replacements’ bench, was told on Thursday of his promotion to a midfield partnership with Gordon D’Arcy. Defence coach Les Kiss said the late change in the outside centre berth previously vacated by injured Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, would not be an issue heading into such an important fixture.