INTERNATIONAL NEWS:AS THAT considerable rump of the Ireland squad were released this weekend to accommodate the needs of the provinces in the Magners League, one key player, Jonathan Sexton, remained in Limerick as one of Declan Kidney's 22 healthy bodies and the six Academy players to be drafted in tonight.
Those Academy players will not be known until a final head count today in Limerick reveals exactly who is injured and the invitees will be decided on Kidney’s positional requirements as much as anything.
But Sexton’s needs going into a Test match against South Africa just over a week away are particular and in terms of his game time at outhalf with Leinster following injury to the quadriceps muscle in his kicking leg, Kidney is content he has seen enough competitive action.
He points out that going into the World Cup next year in New Zealand, Sexton probably won’t have that many matches under his belt in the immediate run in to the tournament, which starts in September. “Jonathan is in a situation whereby all the outhalves need to know what’s going on in terms of our own shape and things like that,” explained the Ireland coach.
“In terms of the game time, I think he has had three, three-and-a-half (Magners League, Heineken Cup) games so if he’s not ready for the November series (after those matches) then he wouldn’t be ready to go to the World Cup next year. Because if he goes to it then he’ll have even less, that’s the gamut leading into it (World Cup).
“So what is the ideal amount for a guy to play? There’s no sports science that has the answer to that. For me, maybe around three, four, five games is the optimum. But injuries will get in the way of that, selections will get in the way of that for some guys and form will come in the way of it. There will be a lot of discussion but as I say, we won’t get everything that we like. And the provinces too. But it’s so important that we work together at this time. If we don’t work together on it, and we pick holes in it, then the thing is just going to fall down.
“We have an Irish situation and the solution to it over the last few years has gone pretty well, even though there have been calls for a debate on it. But we’ll continue to work at it.”
The coach has also placed faith in his team responding positively to the history of the ground at Lansdowne Road and the fact the match against the Springboks on Saturday week is the first international rugby match to take place in the Aviva stadium.
“Every time you put on a green jersey you want to win because you’re representing your country. No matter what in. In every code a fella who pulls on a green jersey wants to win,” said the coach.
“They are current holders of the World Cup. They are hurting after the Tri Nations and the game last year and are coming with the purpose of getting their tour off to a good start. We are playing in a stadium built on the oldest ground in world. It’s special any time and makes this an even more special occasion.”
The Ireland squad has also taken on a specialist scrum coach in Greg Feek, a Kiwi, who Jonno Gibbs has known in the past. Feek has worked with Leinster for the last couple of months and has been drafted into the national squad for the month of November. It’s something the Ireland management have been talking about over the last 18 months.
“It’s just a natural progression,” said Kidney by way of explanation. “Jonno Gibbs knew him from New Zealand and Joe Schmidt (Leinster coach) knew him as well. He has done a bit of consultancy work.”
