Jackman loses out as Kidney opts to give youth a fling
Wednesday October 28 2009
OPPORTUNITY knocks for Connacht's Sean Cronin next month after Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman was left out of Ireland's 39-man squad for the November internationals yesterday.
With Rory Best ruled out for the season with injury, Jackman was widely expected to provide cover for first-choice Jerry Flannery but was not one of the three hookers included, with the other spots behind Flannery going to Cronin and Jackman's club-mate John Fogarty.
Flannery is sidelined with a calf tear but is hoping to return to training this week and the uncapped Cronin looks to be next in line after impressing on Ireland's successful Churchill Cup campaign last summer.
Youth
While there is plenty of experience in a squad that includes 12 players aged over 30, there is also an emphasis on un-capped youth in the shape of centre Fergus McFadden, flanker Sean O'Brien and second-row Devin Toner, while veterans Alan Quinlan, Girvan Demspey and Malcolm O'Kelly all miss out, as does London Irish second-row Bob Casey.
Ronan O'Gara and Jonathan Sexton are the two out-halves named, with Paddy Wallace providing cover if needed, which means no room for Ulster's Ian Humphreys, while his half-back partner Isaac Boss also failed to earn a recall as Declan Kidney opts for Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer and Eoin Reddan.
Ireland face senior internationals against Australia, Fiji and South Africa on November 15, 21 and 28 respectively while the 'A' side takes on Tonga on Friday the 13th and Argentina on the 27th.
An 'A' squad for the Tonga game and a 30-man squad for the Australia test match will be announced next week.
see pages 68-69
- Hugh Farrelly
Irish Independent
