Coach plays by rules by picking Strauss

Declan Kidney understands that not everyone will be jumping for joy at Richardt Strauss’ selection in the Ireland squad but the coach had no hesitation in calling up the South African hooker who is now Irish-qualified under residency rules.

Ireland have been slow to utilise the IRB’s regulations as a means to boost the native playing pool, unlike other nations, some of whom have far larger playing populations at their disposal.

“I respect the fact that people will have their views on all of that but our job is to put the best team out for Ireland and if Richardt falls into that it would be narrow-minded to think that we wouldn’t look at every possible option,” said Kidney. “I don’t think we would be doing our job. If you like, them’s the rules. Everybody is doing it. I saw New Zealand and Australia slagging each other off about it recently. Richardt, in fairness to him, he has bought into everything Leinster is doing. Attitude is the one thing you can’t coach and that is why we have selected him.”