RUGBY ANALYSIS:As the autumn Tests loom how committed is Declan Kidney is to experimentation? asks LIAM TOLAND

THIS DAY last year I was sitting in Omaha, Nebraska, watching the scores come in between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. In the intervening 12 months Obama has managed to gain many successes most notably “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples” he was awarded The Nobel Peace Prize 2009. Sounds a little like Declan Kidney’s role last November, strengthening our international team and its people! The difference of course between Obama and our own leader, Kidney, is an actual trophy. And thankfully it didn’t cost trillions!

Around the world coaches and teams are struggling in some shape or form. Martin Johnson is back in the RWC 2003 era. Robbie Deans is bringing a Grand Slam tour from Australia which is going through huge change. With one from seven matches the Wallabies are in trouble and hunting for a win.

Earlier this week I surfed into http://tv.rugby.com.au which has some great footage of the Grand Slam tour of 1984. The greats such as Mark Ella who scored a try in each match and David Campese are at their mesmeric best. Take a look at the England Australia match where you’ll hear the Australian commentator . . . “Now it’s Underwood, he’s jet propelled this man”.

Further afield Graham Henry is making his changes too between his coaching ticket and players.

The aforementioned coaches have been forced to make changes and that is what differentiates Kidney from them. This autumn he is in a much stronger position to ‘experiment’. While Obama was winning last year’s election Kidney had to negotiate the murky world ranking waters culminating in a hard fought victory over Argentina. Hence our expectations this autumn should allow for his first major step towards RWC 2011. Clearly time is at a premium. And with all the trophies come the responsibility of winning. So what can we expect?

Munster for all their supposed difficulties are still the bookies favourite to win both the Heineken Cup and Magners League. Leinster, with Scarlets home and away, have a great chance to progress in Europe and Ulster have a new found confidence. Injuries aren’t helpful for Kidney but that’s generally restricted to the frontrow. So what do we want to achieve from the games this autumn?

Of the fixtures facing us over the weeks Fiji would appear the most obvious for blooding new caps. I think this is a danger. We were always taught to “expect the unexpected” and Fiji will not disappoint here. That is why the untested should be given their opportunity against the more traditional 15s teams of Australia and South Africa.

Fiji have a habit of unearthing freak rugby players such as Rupeni Caucaunibuca who can destroy the best players in the world. The tries he scored against France and Scotland in RWC 2003 were sensational. Unfortunately he’s bowed out of international rugby at the ripe old age of 29 but his team remain somewhat of an enigma and a high risk environment for debutants.

Tomorrow’s Australian match against England is a very important window for Ireland. Deans is forcing huge change in Australian rugby but none more so than at centre. Queensland Reds centres Digby Ioane and Quade Cooper pair up for the first time at international level. Both are also relatively inexperienced centres at club level. Although the Australians beat the Springboks they have struggled. A stumble tomorrow will knock any remaining confidence. Good news for Ireland of course with the Springboks around the corner we could have Australia and Fiji already in the bag!

England will clearly focus on the set piece to stifle the Wallabies. Judging on how our provinces have been developing, adapting a forward focused style is not beyond Ireland. But to beat the Springboks we’ll need all facets firing.

So I hope the plan is to use a very balanced blend between the opening two games giving for example Ronan O’Gara and Johnny Sexton equal opportunity in both fixtures. This will allow for that famous horror of “benchmarking” to commence prior to the Springboks’ game. How committed Kidney is to experimentation we’re soon to find out but I for one hope that’s not confined to the 75th minute of the fixture. Clearly the Australians are happy to chance new combinations.

So will Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe or Paddy Wallace partner Brian O’Driscoll? Is there space for Keith Earls or Shane Horgan? Wouldn’t it be great to see inexperience such as Devin Toner partner Paul O’Connell in any of the fixtures, likewise John Fogarty and John Hayes. And if Fogarty makes the top slot it would do him no harm to have his Leinster team-mates Leo Cullen and Toner to throw to.

With the autumn series comes another opportunity to focus on the referee and his interpretation of both the maul and breakdown as north meets south. But more of that for next week and as there’s a slight lull in play from the domestic professionals this weekend you could do worse than stroll down to the RDS tonight where Lansdowne FC entertain Blackrock College RFC. There are many future stars togging out especially backs. Blackrock have managed big wins over UL, Garryowen and Cork Constitution in the AIB League Division 1A. Lansdowne likewise are full of running rugby so it’ll be a showpiece of future talent.

And if you’re a real glutton for punishment during this rugby weekend of internationals keep a close eye on the Top 14 in France. They all played last night to facilitate the French national team but check out the highlights especially between Perpignan (Munster’s opponents) and TC Toulon, beautiful!