Ireland have named one of the oldest teams in their history for this “development” game against the mighty Fijians!
While most people were expecting to see at least a glimmer of player development as Ireland build for the World Cup in 22 months time it appears that Declan Kidney and his masters at the IRFU have other ideas with the average age of the starting XV ratcheting up from 27.6 years against Australia to 28.2 for this “must win” game against the Pacific Islanders.
Ireland Squad. (1-8) Court, Flannery, Hayes, Cullen O’Connell, Ferris, Leamy, Heaslip. (15-9) Kearney, Horgan, O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Earls, Sexton, Reddan. (16-22) Cronin, Buckley, O’Callaghan, O’Brien, O’Leary, Wallace, Trimble.
I can’t express how deeply disappointing this selection is with Sexton and O’Brien really the only players in the panel worthy of being called a development selection.
From this selection and from the selection for the Australia game it now appears that Ireland have decided not to bother with any meaningful development this Autumn but instead have concentrated on putting a team together for a tilt at, World Champions, South Africa.
It is, however, difficult to see what they’ll learn if they do manage to beat a team practically out on its feet if they do win against The Bokke.
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