Kidney: This is not the end for O’Callaghan

Another international career over or a straightforward tactical decision for a specific match?

They’re the considerations veteran lock Donncha O’Callaghan was mulling over last night after being excluded by Declan Kidney from tomorrow’s Six Nations visit to Rome.

The 33-year-old O’Callaghan was part of the Ireland U19 team that won the World Cup under Kidney in 1998 and the big, brave second row has gone on to earn 94 caps in a 10-year international career that also brought further riches in the form of selection for the British and Irish Lions.