You’ve got to wonder who is picking the Ireland team these days, Kidney or the marketing men? I have to say I’ve serious doubts as to whether it’s Kidney after he comes out with the following statement:
“We’ve tried to mix experience and youth in the right team to face the type of challenge that Samoa present”
and then produces one of the oldest and most experienced starting XV’s in the history of Irish rugby only throwing in Cronin, Toner and O’Brien just to bring the average number of caps to below 50 and the average age below 35.
Cronin and O’Brien may well have an international future but I’m still to be convinced by Toner who was comfortably outplayed by O’Donoghue at Ravers last season. Now, I am always keen to give youth a chance, certainly keener than Kidney by the looks of it, but this decision smacks of a knee jerk reaction after MO’D and Best made a balls of the line outs. (Don’t know who was at fault . . .
You will need to log in or register to read the rest of this article. If you have not already registered you can click here to register.
In 2022 we added 102,631 new images in 510 galleries with a gallery breakdown of 263 Rugby, 217 Hockey and 30 Athletics. Your registration and subscription will help us to continue.
Thanks.
Corrections, comments or questions?