Squad players keen to prove worth: Kidney

Declan Kidney believes Ireland’s fringe players are eager to make an impact in today’s clash with Fiji at the RDS.

Head coach Kidney has put his squad to use for the second of Ireland’s autumn internationals against a team ranked 10th in the world.

Key senior figures such as Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell are present, but the likes of Test rookies Leo Cullen and Tom Court also feature.

“I thought Scotland played quite well against them last week and Fiji didn’t make it easy,” said Kidney.

“They now have another week under their belts. As for our lads getting up for this game, I think you only have to ask Shane (Horgan) or Gordon (D’Arcy), or any of the other guys who have come into the team.

“They are champing at the bit in training for this one. I couldn’t guarantee anything, I’m not sure how the game will go, but we have picked a team that we believe will be hungry for the match.

“No doubt, Fiji will be too, given that they now have the Scotland game behind them.”

Skipper O’Driscoll insists the Fijians will not be underestimated.

“An important part of our professionalism is that we give each team the same respect, whether it is Australia, Fiji or South Africa,” he said.

“We will do nothing differently because it is different opposition this week, because it is a lower ranking team than Australia.

“We’ve trained with the same intensity, done the same video analysis, had the same meetings, and we will still have the same focus.

“Irrespective of who you are playing, I think your are doing yourself an injustice if your don’t treat a Test match as a Test match.”