RUGBY:WITH CHANGE comes hope, and there was a decided whiff of a new era when Declan Kidney unveiled his first selection as Ireland head coach in Killiney yesterday for Saturday's encounter with Canada.

Reports from training yesterday morning and the presence of Keith Earls between the new coach and Brian O'Driscoll at the top table had already told us the first name on the teamsheet was the debutant 21-year-old Limerickman. But the surprises didn't stop there.

Stephen Ferris, after just three starts for Ulster, is included in the backrow, while Tony Buckley, after just two undistinguished Magners League starts for Munster either side of a couple of AIB League outings with Shannon, makes his first Test start after nine caps off the bench. Not many saw those three coming. More predictably, Luke Fitzgerald, Eoin Reddan and Jerry Flannery return.

Suddenly the average age of the starting team has dropped to 26.4. Ever-youthful-looking 31-year-old Ronan O'Gara is the elder statesman of the team. He won't like that.

If nothing else, Kidney and his newly assembled think tank have immediately put their own stamp on things. It all raised the question as to whether this was a first-choice XV, which, Kidney being Kidney, begot the answer: "What is a first 15?"

Highlighting the starting XV's enthusiasm in training, he added: "I also like the age group of the team in that this is an IRB ranking tournament for the World Cup, all these fellas want to have a good draw; age-wise they all see themselves being around in a few years and to have an input into that I'm sure they'll relish the opportunity."

Just as pertinent, though, was his assertion that "we're trying to build a panel". Hence, it will be as big a surprise if this is the team to face the almighty All Blacks. That said, most of the key decision-makers through the spine of the team - with regard to lineout calls, defensive and attacking systems - are liable to retain their places.

More likely, the management have taken the view that they will hardly play the same starting XV three Saturdays running.

The remarkably durable John Hayes, 35 last Sunday, is a prime case in point.

That partly explains Buckley's inclusion, which certainly cannot be deemed a form pick. He turned 28 last month, but despite a recently improved deal with the IRFU, the tighthead's career has faltered.

Given the paucity of ready made alternatives to Hayes, Kidney perhaps took the view that this game better served to remind Buckley as to how productive and lucrative his career might yet become, rather than leaving him out in the cold.

"I'd fully understand why provinces pick players at different times," stressed Kidney. "They're doing their job very well too, it's just what it is right now. I think he deserves his go."

Nor would it be a surprise if either Geordan Murphy or Girvan Dempsey return to face the All Blacks, although for the time being it's hard not to feel excited about the prospect of the 21-year-old Earls dovetailing with Fitzgerald (21), Rob Kearney (22) and Tommy Bowe (24) on, almost literally, his home patch.

"Just keep doing what he's doing," was Kidney's advice to Earls, whose career has taken flight this season in his first half a dozen starts for Munster.

"He looks to be enjoying himself. He has a few attributes. He's come into the line at good times, his lines of running have been good, the speed he's shown has been good, his kicking game has been good . . . jeeze, there's a lot of things, aren't there? I should have balanced that out with a few other things," he said turning toward the sheepish youngster beside him.

"He's getting picked because he deserves to get picked and we'll try not to make it any harder for him."

Similarly, it's hard not to believe David Wallace won't come back into the equation next week, although an abscess in his tooth overnight may yet see Alan Quinlan take his projected place on the bench.

Reflecting on the new voices, structural changes to the game and little alterations to the weekly itinerary, O'Driscoll admitted it all felt like the dawn of a new era. "I'm rooming with Donncha at the moment and it was exciting last night wondering what the team was going to be today. It's nice to have that rejuvenation again. We look forward to training. I've personally looked forward to training every time I've gone out. I feel as though I'm learning things on a daily basis. We're trying to push things as much as we ever have but with a new coaching staff in there you're still trying to impress them and get off on a good footing. So yeah, it seems like it's like a little bit of a rebirth."

It has that whiff all right.