Another stepping stone for O’Mahony

Declan Kidney has backed his Irish “winners” to kick on from their sense of disappointment caused by the draw in France last week when they resume RBS 6 Nations duty against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium today (5pm).

Ireland let a 17-6 half-time lead slip at Stade de France last Sunday as the French fought back for a 17-17 draw, thus denying Kidney’s side a first win in Paris since 2000. For Irish teams past a draw would be a cause for celebration, but the head coach defended his players’ right to feel aggrieved.

“The players are winners so they won’t ever be satisfied with that,” Kidney said yesterday. “But if you go too harsh on yourself that’s when you can dry up. The lads are in good humour. They’ve been in great humour the last couple of days but they are certainly not satsified with what happened last week and let’s hope we can kick on.”

This game will bring a first Ireland start for Munster’s Peter O’Mahony, who replaces Sean O’Brien at openside flanker after the Leinster man withdrew with a skin infection on his foot. And Kidney is satisfied the 22-year-old will adapt to the challenge.

“That’s the benefit of having been in and around the squad for the last four or five weeks,” Kidney said. “It’s another stepping stone for him. It’s unfortunate for Sean, but you take the chance whatever way you get it in life and I’m sure he’s looking forward to putting down a marker.

“You can start talking about what you lose in Sean but what you gain in Peter. No two players are exactly the same. Peter has his own attributes and the benefit of it is that maybe Scotland haven’t analysed as much as they might have had, had he five or six caps under his belt. So, he has a few of his own personal nuances and if he brings those into the game that will be helpful to us.

“He’s certainly dealt very well with everything that’s been thrown at him to date and I’d imagine, what is it they say about a swan? It’s not so much about what’s happening above the water, it’s what’s happening under the water. He’ll be churning a bit but if you’re not churning you shouldn’t be here.”

Kidney was able to declare Keith Earls, Donncha O’Callaghan and Jonny Sexton all fit for today’s game after they came through yesterday’s Captain’s Run. He also said O’Brien was expected to be back training next Tuesday in advance of the campaign finale against England a week today.