Kidney has opted to name his squad without veteran players Malcolm O’Kelly and Girvan Dempsey. However he welcomes debutants in the form of Leinster’s John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Fergus McFadden, Sean O’Brian and Jonathon sexton, Connacht’s Sean Cronin and Brett Wilkinson as well as Ulster’s Chris Henry.
Despite a fantastic season so far, Ian Humphreys (David’s brother) has not been included in Kidney’s 39 man squad. Kidney will shorten his squad to 30 at the end of this week to face Australia .
The battle for the number ten shirt is now fiercer than ever with Jonathon Sexton doing incredibly well for Leinster filling the boots of Argentine Philippe Contepomi. Sexton’s performance in last years Heineken Cup final was immaculate and if he stays on current form, he will provide serious competition for a slightly inconsistent Ronan O’Gara. Paddy Wallace could also be a choice at ten but I think he should compete for a role in the centres alongside O’Driscoll.
Eoin Redden, Thomas O’Leary and Peter Stringer will contest for the Scrum Half spot. However in most recent times, Stringer has started on the bench for club and country. He provides that experience and knowledge that could be needed late on in a game, so I feel that for the internationals he will come on as a late replacement to control things and to give Ireland a boost. Despite an excellent individual try last weekend, Isaac Boss has not been included.
To the forwards and Leinster’s captain Leo Cullen has been brought back alongside the regulars of Donncha O’Callaghan and Lions captain Paul O’Connell.
Brett Wilkinson and Cian Healey will be pressurising the places of John Hayes, Marcus Horan and Tony Buckley. Hayes, ironically banned for stamping on Healey, is available for the tests, however I estimate Healey will receive his first cap over the Autumn series.
Sean Cronin will have to fight with Jerry Flannery and Provincial club mate John Fogarty for the hooking spot as Ulsterman Rory Best has been ruled out for this season. As Girvin Dempsey has been omitted, this will give Keith Earls a chance to contest with Rob Kearney for the number 15 shirt.
Similar to England’s situation, these younger players can come into the fold and, although the may not earn starting places, they can learn so much from being around the experienced players that form the majority of the current Irish team. These Irish icons will not be around for ever so the new capped guys are in theory, the future of Irish rugby. Now is the time for them to prove themselves and start to compete for six nations and 2011 world cup places.
Ireland kick off their autumn internationals on Sunday the 15th of November against Australia, they then go on to host Fiji and South Africa.
Who would your starting line up be for the Aussies clash?
I would pick
Cian Healy
Jerry Flannery
Marcus Horan
Paul O’Connell
Leo Cullen
Denis Leamy
Neil Best
Jamie Heaslip
O’Leary
O’Gara
Bowe
P Wallace
O’Driscoll
Fitzgerald
Kearney
Declan Kidney’s 39 man squad as follows:
Ireland squad: Tommy Bowe; Neil Best; Tony Buckley; Darren Cave, Tom Court, Sean Cronin*, Leo Cullen, Gordon D'Arcy, Gavin Duffy, Keith Earls, Stephen Ferris, Luke Fitzgerald, Jerry Flannery, John Fogarty*, John Hayes, Cian Healy*, Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry*, Marcus Horan, Shane Horgan, Robert Kearney, Denis Leamy, Fergus McFadden*, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary, Sean O'Brien*, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Jonathan Sexton*, Peter Stringer, Devin Toner, Andrew Trimble, David Wallace, Paddy Wallace, Brett Wilkinson*.
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