Dodging grub no consolation for Kidney

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney last night dismissed his team’s reprieve from post-match formalities in Paris as not “much of an olive branch” for the disruption caused to the squad and Irish supporters following last Saturday night’s postponement.

Kidney was following up on the IRFU’s expression of disappointment with the Six Nations Council’s decision to reschedule the postponed game between France and Ireland for Sunday, March 4 at 4pm local time rather than its preference for 24 hours earlier.

That would have given supporters a Saturday 3pm kick-off at Stade de France and allow the team a seven-day turnaround following the home game with Italy on Ferbruary 25 and before the Aviva Stadium fixture with Scotland on March 10.