IRELAND TEAM PROFILE

It was a last gasp Vincent Clerc try at Croke Park in 2007 that broke Irish hearts and resulted in France winning the championship on points difference. That was followed by a poor showing in the World Cup and last season’s Six Nations in which they could only manage fourth place – their lowest finish in the competition for a number of years. That led to the curtain coming down on Eddie O’Sullivan’s reign as Head Coach with Munster’s Declan Kidney the natural choice to succeed him after guiding Munster to Heineken Cup glory last May. How he fares in his first season will much depend on the outcome of the visits of England and France – the latter on the opening day of the competition – to Dublin. With winnable fixtures on the road against Italy and Scotland, the Irish could conceivably have a big say in the title’s destination going into their final game of the tournament at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

A mixture of youth and experience will be Kidney’s solution to remedy a disappointing two years that has seen Ireland slip from second in the world rankings down to eighth. Having nurtured the likes of Keith Earls at Munster, Kidney is well aware of the talent at his disposal but to contend for the title he will have to find the best way to accommodate and gel together individuals in a squad that is capable of great things. Earls, Rob Kearney and Tommy Bowe would make for a young, inexperienced back three but raw speed, fearlessness and innovation could create the spark that Irish rugby so desperately needs.

Geordan Murphy looks unlikely to feature but Kidney believes old faithfuls like John Hayes, Shane Horgan, Peter Stringer, David Wallace and Alan Quinlan still have a role to play within the squad. Ronan O’Gara was one of the few success stories in last year’s Six Nations as he kept his head to lift himself from the anguish of the World Cup and perform �

COACH

DECLAN KIDNEY

As Munster head coach, he took his team to the pinnacle of Europe for the second time in four attempts in 2008 by winning the Heineken Cup, before officially succeeding Eddie O’Sullivan as Ireland’s head coach. It was his second stint at the club, having spent time with O’Sullivan at the 2003 World Cup before brief spells at Newport-Gwent Dragons and Leinster. Kidney is regarded as a pragmatic man, a facilitator and a motivator, not a mastermind tactician. At his disposal are a talented group of players, who gradually became somewhat one dimensional under O’Sullivan and should relish a new tiller.

Left Munster’s Ronan O’Gara has made the Irish No. 10 shirt his own in recent times

CLASSIC SPORTS SERIES / 109