Declan Kidney announces unchanged squad for Ireland’s quarter-final against Wales – Rugby
Ireland’s national Rugby Union team’s head coach, Declan Kidney, has announced his match day squad for their upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) quarter-final clash against Wales. Ireland and Wales will kick start the quarter-final phase of the tournament as the Northern Hemisphere rivals lock horns with each other at Westpac Stadium, Wellington on Saturday, October 8.
Kidney announced his squad on Wednesday, October 5. The squad is similar to the one, which took the field against Italy at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin on Saturday, October 2. Ireland finished on top of Pool C and already have major win in their bag. Ireland defeated the 2011 Tri Nations champions and 2011 RWC favourties, Wallabies, in their pool C encounter.
Kidney’s biggest surprise move is to retain their talented front row forwards player, Rory Best, in Ireland’s match-day 22. Best sustained a shoulder injury during Ireland’s weekend clash against the Azzurri’s. The diagnosis on the Best’s right shoulder later has revealed an injury to his AC joint.
Injury to the Irish hooker has forced the management to name Michael Sherry to be included in the squad as a cover. Earlier in the tournament, Ireland lost their first choice hooker, Jerry Flannery, with a serious calf injury. Damien Varley replaced Flannery in the squad.
Kidney has not confirmed whether Best will recover in time for the game. Best is named to start at the hooker position in the starting xv but he will have to undergo a late fitness test to confirm his spot in the quarter-final lineup.
Kidney added, “You always have to take each day as it comes and he's made nothing but progress since Sunday.” However, in case Best fails to recover, Sherry will be included in the squad but he is unlikely to get a place in the quarterfinal. Incase Best fails to recover on time, Sean Cronin will be moved from the bench to the starting lineup, making way for the Damien Varley on the bench.
Additionally, Kidney has persisted with Ronan O’Gara in the fly half position ahead of Jonathan Sexton. Sexton will start the match from the bench. Supporting this decision, he said, “You would always go through a team one by one and give each position the same consideration.”
Both teams so far have played two games with each other in the RWC tournament. Both teams have won a game each, as they will eye a tiebreaker during their weekend encounter. Both teams have already delivered some exceptional performance, as the match promises to be a classic RWC game. Very little separates both side, however, Ireland with their win over the Wallabies will start the match as favourites.
Ireland:
Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Ronan O'Gara, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien, Stephen Ferris, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mike Ross, Rory Best, Cian Healy.
Reserves: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble.
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