Italy coach Conor O’Shea has admitted he had to stop himself from picking Ian McKinley to face Ireland purely to create a “romantic story”.
Dublin-born fly-half McKinley was forced to retire in 2011 after being blinded in one eye, only to relaunch his career in Italy three years later thanks to the aid of specially-designed protective goggles.
The former Leinster playmaker’s situation even led World Rugby to ratify the use of the goggles for Test rugby, with the 28-year-old since progressing to represent Italy by way of residency.
Former Ireland full-back O'Shea conceded he would have loved to throw in McKinley to face his Irish compatriots in Saturday's Six Nations clash in Dublin this weekend — but felt compelled to keep faith with Tommaso Allan and Carlo Canna.
“He was disappointed because he wants to play, that’s the bottom line,” O’Shea told reporters of Benetton playmaker McKinley.
“I knew it would mean a lot to him, so I said as much.
“But Ian’s a rugby player, he’s not a romantic story. Ian wants to be picked because he is the number one rugby player and has the right to be in this team at the time, not because he’s a story.
“Sport is full of romance but the hard-nosed side of it is that, at the moment, Tommy Allan had the jersey last weekend and was outstanding, and Carlo Canna is one of the top points-scorers in Pro14 rugby and an exciting talent who brings a different skill-set.
“I’d love to have picked Ian, I wanted to pick him in so many ways but how could you say to the other players, ‘you’re not picked because I want to pick Ian on romance’. Ian is a rugby player and he’s a bloody good rugby player.”
Italy lost out 46-15 to England in Rome last weekend in their opening Six Nations clash.
Now the Azzurri will head to Dublin with former Harlequins coach O’Shea enjoying his first homecoming as Italy boss.
O’Shea hailed uncapped Leinster full-back Jordan Larmour as boasting the potential to match the exploits of former All Blacks great Christian Cullen.
The Italy boss won 35 Ireland caps between 1993 and 2000, but easily laughed off any comparisons with Leinster’s 20-year-old Larmour.
“He reminds me of a young Christian Cullen; I haven’t seen someone who can step off both feet like that,” said O’Shea.
“I couldn’t even step off one foot, I just ran straight the whole time!
“I can’t wait to see him up close and personal, though I hope he doesn’t do too well.
“He is box office isn’t he, to have that sort of ability?
“I’m sure Joe will nurture him through the way only Joe does.”
Italy team to play Ireland:
Italy: Matteo Minozzi; Tommaso Benvenuti, Tommaso Boni, Tomasso Castello, Mattia Bellini; Tomasso Allan, Marcello Violi; Nicola Quaglio, Luca Bigi, Simone Ferrari; Alessandro Zanni, Dean Budd; Sebastian Negri, Braham Steyn, Sergio Parisse (captain). Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti, Tiziano Pasquali, Federico Ruzza, Maxime Mbanda, Edoardo Gori, Carlo Canna, Jayden Hayward.
