Paul O'Connell dismisses notion of Leinster bias in Ireland camp

The Ireland coach said the perception that there is a bias towards Leinster players when it comes to selection for the international squad "must be bigger than I realised".

NO BIAS: Ireland forwards Coach Paul O'Connell. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Paul O’Connell has dismissed the notion Leinster players receive preferential treatment when it comes to Ireland squad selection.

Leinster, unbeaten so far this season, dominate Ireland’s Six Nations squad with 23 players in Simon Easterby’s 36-man group currently training in Portugal. Yet the Ireland forwards coach disputed the perception there was over-representation nor were Leinster players favoured when it came to 50/50 selection decisions.

"A 50/50 is never decided on 'oh, he plays with such and such a player with his province' - we've never had that conversation,” former Munster and Ireland captain O’Connell said on Friday at their Quinta do Lago training base.

"We're aware of it, that Leinster are very strong and win a lot of their games. We always talk when we're giving a player a chance that we want to give him a chance in a good team, to perform. Generally, when you get a chance with Leinster at the moment you get a chance in a good team.

"We've never actually not selected a Leinster person because we're worried we've too many Leinster players in the squad and we've never selected a player because we felt that 'he's playing with Leinster and he has a combination', you know?

"We're trying to pick the best players for the team, the best players that I suppose play the best for us and make the team feel good, prepare well and be in the best place to perform.

"I understand the perception, but it's never entered the conversation."

O’Connell said he was not frustrated by such perceptions as Ireland continued to prepare for their championship opener against England next Saturday at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

"I'm not overly aware of it, now that you're asking me it must be bigger than I realised. But it's not frustrating at all, I would always have a very clear conscience about selection, that we're doing the right thing. We don't always get it right, that's the thing.

"It's been nice, recently we'd (Munster back rower) Alex Kendellen in because we wanted him to train with us and for him to see what it was like. We've that bit of flexibility in the squad, we've (Ulster back rower) James McNabney in to see what it's like, learn the language and that's part of it as well."

The Ireland camp, which also has four uncapped development players training with the squad on the Algarve this week, is expecting a quarter of senior squad selections, Connacht’s Caolin Blade, and Leinster trio James Lowe, Dan Sheehan and the uncapped Jack Boyle, to join them in Portugal following their weekend URC games.

O’Connell added: “They're a big part of the planning next week, so at the same time we thought it was important they got games.

“Jack Boyle, to play against the Stormers with that quality scrum is important for him. Sheeno's been out for a while, so we thought it was really important that they got the games, and it allows us to spend a bit more time with other players. It's worked out well for us.”