Rugby:Keith Earls will fill the biggest boots in Irish rugby after being asked to deputise for the injured Brian O'Driscoll in Sunday's Six Nations curtain raiser against Wales. The versatile Munster man has been handed the number 13 jersey ahead of Fergus McFadden for the clash at the Aviva Stadium.
The only other changes from the side that was beaten by Wales in the World Cup quarter-finals see Andrew Trimble come into the left wing berth vacated by Earls while Jonathan Sexton is selected ahead of Ronan O’Gara at outhalf.
Donncha O’Callaghan keeps his place in the secondrow alongside stand-in skipper Paul O’Connell. O’Callaghan has played second fiddle to Donnacha Ryan at club level for much of the season but the younger man has to settle for a place on the bench.
Not a coach given to regular flights of fancy, Declan Kidney has selected a side with plenty of experience for the rematch against Warren Gatland’s side but there is room in the matchday 22 for the uncapped Munster backrow Peter O’Mahony.
Earls was given some time off at the start of this week after his partner gave birth last week, with Kidney confirming that he made his decision after watching him in training last week.
“Keith trained really well last week and it was on that basis that we made the decision. He’s looking forward to it and obviously has played very well there for Munster. All players can adapt. He’s played a lot in the position and is comfortable there. Keith has been playing very strongly in the Heineken Cup.”
Recent form stood to O’Callaghan in getting the nod in the secondrow, although Kidney admitted that Ryan has become a very strong candidate for inclusion in the starting XV.
“Donnacha Ryan has been playing exceptionally well with Munster. I know that when we had him in the squad in August we were wondering would he make the squad or not, but he’s come on in leaps and bounds since the World Cup,” said Kidney.
“It’s just the make-up and mix of the team and the chemistry that each guy brings too it. I’d be happy for either of them to start, but I just think Donncha O’Callaghan, in the last game or two he’s started, has shown what he’s always brought to Ireland.”
Another player to impress Kidney is Munster backrow O’Mahony, who is in line to make his debut on Sunday off the bench.
“We took a look at how the Wolfhounds went on Saturday night and those guys who’ve joined us for training this week have gone really well. We’ve always said that training is important and Peter trained really well, he backed up what he has been doing on the pitch and he gives us good versatility there as cover,” added Kidney, who likened his progression to that of scrumhalf Conor Murray.
“Sometimes guys do that, like Conor Murray would have done that last summer. He’s come in, trained away with the group and just seemed to be very comfortable in it. And then you back them.
“I suppose I’d be probably be known for not bringing players in with too much of a fanfare, let him come in this way and see how he goes. Obviously it’s a big week for him but it’s a big week for everybody.”
Gatland, who is waiting for medical reports on a number of walking wounded, will not reveal his hand until Friday. Sunday's match at the Aviva Stadium kicks-off at 3pm.
Ireland:Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster); Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster); Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster). Replacements:Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster).
