Brian O'Farrell

Rave on Irish Rugby not Rant

Musing on Sport

Written by Brian

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Sexton starting!!

Declan Kidney has broke with his conservative selection nature and gone for the rookie who has shown the better form than than veteran. In doing so, he has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons that the OAPs are not guaranteed their jersey's through the 6 Nations and beyond.

Well lets not get ahead of ourselves.

This one selection of young Jonathan Sexton, retained as starting outhalf after his man of the match performance on his debut in international rugby is a shock, but a long overdue one. But it merely papers over other glaring omissions and we've not seen whether Kidney will use his bench in a match that matters.

There are backward steps in the rest of the squad selection, particularly on the bench where two Munster bench players are selected ahead of starters for other provinces. Buckley (who even Munster supporters will not defend) & Stringer replace Court & Reddan, both had decent games last Saturday, especially Court.

Whilst, it a shock that Leamy is included, he will face a fitness test later in the week, are we really surprised? I can't phantom how a dubiously fit Leamy ahead of O'Brien or Best for this squad, especially as Kidney should be looking to age his squad downwards as he gears up towards two long seasons ahead of the world cup.

I won't criticise Donnacha being recalled at Cullen's expense, it was expected but Kidney should look to bring Cullen on next week to change the momentum of the game.

Elsewhere, there are few surprises. Hayes is retained (exception to the OAPs are not guaranteed their jersey's through the 6 Nations clearly) whilst Healy is brought back in a surprisingly show of faith in the young prop who didn't scrummage well against the Australians whilst having a huge impact around the park. Healy will learn and improve in the tight, but he has what can't be thought, speed around the paddock.

Earls is given his chance to make the 11 jersey his own, with Fitzgerald injured after a reasonable impressive game against Fiji, capped off by two tries. But it is interesting that form does over rule development in this position, with Horgan overlooked despite being probably the form wing playing in Ireland (Bowe is in Wales).

Edit;I've not raved enough on this squad selection.
This is a team is capable of taking a huge scalp on Saturday afternoon, especially at home. There is a lot of experience in the team, for all my ranting on Hayes inclusion, he is not penalised by soft refs at the scrum and adds an immense amount of work at the breakdown and is a one man lifting (throwing) unit at lineouts. Whilst the 2-4-5 line out axis how each other very well, and that is needed against the best line out in the world. The backrow is the best first choice selection available to Ireland (though I would like to see a pure openside included). And the back line is very exciting. Bowe is playing incredibly rugby, O'Driscoll is surely a shoe in for IRB player of the year, and it is great to see Earls get his chance (remember I did argue for his selection ahead of Kearney). And the lynchpin of this backline is a young tyro who is not afraid. He has already played the biggest match of his life and the second. Slotting a cool penalty whilst not fully warmed up in the former and sinking a drop goal from halfway in the latter.
Yes this is an Irish XV to be proud of, my problem is the lack of vision in the bench. < /Edit>

But at the very least, Kidney has done what O'Sullivan never could and be bold and give youth its chance. O'Gara was last dropped in 2003, but then he was competing for the jersey with Humphreys. It is good to see, Kidney re-install competition for jerseys into the team.