O'Driscoll lays it on line
Gordon D'Arcy has been named among the replacements for Ireland's Six Nations opener against France on Saturday
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Wednesday February 04 2009
"WE have big potential if we can click, but that's the big if." So said Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll following the announcement of the 22 to face France at Croke Park on Saturday.
Declan Kidney's first Six Nations selection was well received in Limerick yesterday as it rewarded form players and, crucially, placed them in the positions where they have shone this season.
Now, as O'Driscoll points out, it is about transferring paper potential to pitch productivity, with the greatest question mark hovering over the back line.
Outstanding
However, by selecting Paddy Wallace in the inside-centre slot, where he has been outstanding for Ulster; Rob Kearney in the No 15 jersey, where he should have been installed for province and country since his stunning summer tour showings; Tommy Bowe in his preferred right-wing slot and Luke Fitzgerald in the left-wing role, where he has been playing regularly for Leinster, Kidney has been both progressive and eminently sensible.
"All of the lads in the back line have, by and large, been playing in those positions and playing well," reasoned Kidney. Selection can be a simple process after all.
Injury to Keith Earls reduced the permutations somewhat, as it was revealed that the Munster back has a dead leg which ruled him out of selection for this encounter, but not necessarily for the trip to Rome the following weekend.
His Munster team-mate Ian Dowling will be out for eight weeks with a hamstring injury which threatens his involvement in the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup in April.
However, the most disquieting 'injury' image yesterday was the sight of Kearney hobbling around the Strand Hotel on crutches after he went over on his ankle during the morning training session.
Kidney stressed that this was merely a precautionary measure to keep his weight off the ankle and that, while the full-back would be closely monitored over the next 48 hours, he is expected to be fine for Saturday.
There was no surprise at half-back, where Ronan O'Gara and Tomas O'Leary will continue to develop the relationship that has proved so successful with Munster.
Nor in the front five, where Kidney selected Munster's in-form unit en bloc, while flankers Stephen Ferris and David Wallace take superb provincial form into the international arena -- notwithstanding Wallace's regular appearances at eight for Munster.
While Jamie Heaslip was under pressure from Denis Leamy, the Leinster man has never played badly for Ireland since establishing himself in the side against France last February, but will know that he needs a big game on his 14th cap to stave of the challenge of the rejuvenated Leamy.
The selection is worrying for multi-capped Leinster back-line duo Girvan Dempsey and Shane Horgan, as neither feature in the senior 22 or Ireland 'A' 22 that play the England Saxons in Donnybrook on Friday night.
Should Kearney be ruled out, you would expect one of this pair to come into contention on the bench if Geordan Murphy steps up, but once Earls recovers it will be harder for Dempsey and Horgan to force their way back in.
Alan Quinlan is another to miss out on both squads, but Kidney insisted that not too much should be read into the omissions.
"Alan Quinlan is still training with us. The 'A' squad is a mix of not too many younger players, we are trying to bring them through.
"With Girvan and Shane Horgan, if we felt we needed to give them a game, there is another 'A' game against Scotland. We are trying to develop a squad and we feel the 'A' team is an integral part of that."
By contrast, it was a good day for Tom Court, the Australia-born Ulster prop who has gone from AIB League anonymity to the position of Ireland's best back-up prop in the continuing absence of Tony Buckley.
Malcolm O'Kelly provides the experience alongside him and Court is the only uncapped replacement on a bench that includes Rory Best, Leamy, Peter Stringer, Gordon D'Arcy and Murphy.
It is a strong 22, and a confident one given the recent, decent provincial displays -- notably in Munster and Ulster.
They face a France outfit whose strengths are concentrated in the back row and three-quarter line.
The back row of Thierry Dusautoir, Fulgence Oudreago and Imanol Harinordoquy is frighteningly mobile and, announced 24 hours after Groundhog Day, the ball-winning potential of a trio that has extensive experience of art of open-side play is pronounced.
David Wallace is in outstanding form and has a proven track record at seven, but Ferris and Leamy have never been entirely comfortable in the looser position should anything happen the Munster flanker.
While France appear vulnerable at half-back and in the front five, their outside runners will arrive in Dublin packed with try-scoring potential.
Poitrenaud, Malzieu, Fritz, Jauzion and Medard are a formidable unit with the ability to cut any side in the world open while, as O'Driscoll says, Ireland's back line carries plenty of invention but their effectiveness depends on a collective fluidity that eluded them in November.
Nonetheless, with an 'A' selection that marries nous in the shape of Neil Best, Shane Jennings, Bob Casey and Eoin Reddan, with the promise of Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Darren Cave and Mark McCrea, allied to a senior squad that ticks all the right boxes, yesterday's selection box had considerable appeal.
We just have to wait and see if it tastes as good as it looks.
