Penney lays down Irish selection gauntlet to ‘Killer’

They may have Joe Schmidt’s sympathy, but those players who did not make the cut for his first competitive Ireland squad will no doubt be following Rob Penney’s advice for the omitted Dave Kilcoyne and setting about proving to the national head coach “you’ve left the wrong guy out”.

On a day of mixed emotions in provincial team rooms, as Schmidt announced a 34-man squad for next month’s Guinness Series of home Tests against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand, there were celebrations for uncapped trio James Coughlan, Jack McGrath and Dave Kearney as they learned they had made the grade for the autumn internationals.

Ahead of his final season in green, 125-times capped Brian O’Driscoll was also on the list, one of 17 Leinster players, despite having missed the province’s opening Heineken Cup wins over Ospreys and Castres with a calf injury, and he will have a chance to close in on Ronan O’Gara’s Ireland record of 131 Test appearances next month.