IF YOU’RE GOOD enough, you’re old enough.
So the mantra goes anyway. And that was a guideline followed by Declan Kidney into the latter November internationals as Irish rugby headed on an upward curve,.
When the head coach handed Craig Gilroy and Simon Zebo a starting jersey against Argentina, it was a monumental show of faith.
This week, with a plateau reached, Kidney will select a starting XV from a list with some vital names crossed out.
Cian Healy, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Zebo, Mike McCarthy, Richardt Strauss, Gordon D’Arcy, Paul O’Connell and Tommy Bowe – only one of these men would not be a nailed-on starter if fully fit this week.
The forwards will indeed be missed from the pack, but you sense Dave Kilcoyne, at least, is chomping at the bit for a starting run in place of Healy.
Behind the scrum though, complicate matters greatly. D’Arcy’s lay-off is a massive blow to Kidney’s plans. Where he may have begun to look beyond Brian O’Driscoll, D’Arcy has been a rock. And, in Ireland’s two wins this season, he has balanced up his contributions in attack with his efforts in defence.
Without both parts of his five-eighth unit for the trip to Murrayfield, Declan Kidney has a big decision on his hands.
We’ve written here already this week about the question marks that now hover over Ronan O’Gara, but any doubt that he would take over the shirt have surely been dispelled with D’Arcy’s name added to the injury list. To place two inexperienced names side by side on the team-sheet will be a leap too far for a coach with a track record of conservatism.
In November, we praised Kidney for injecting new life into the entire setup. With bodies battered as much as confidence, a second dose is required.
©INPHO/James Crombie
After hobbling out of last night’s win over Zebre, Luke Marshall is also a doubt and omitting him will be an easy task if Kidney has any reservations about putting him into a Test match environment. Yet last night’s bonus point-winning display (albeit against Zebre) should have gave Ireland’s coach more to ponder than just Marshall.
Midfield options are growing thin. And with Fergus McFadden again pushed to the wing with his province, the number 12 shirt looks increasingly like it will be given to a player more suited to playing in the outside channel.
Faith
Darren Cave was the cutting edge for Ulster last night and, coming on the back of a season’s worth of quality, he must surely be close to consideration for a midfield berth alongside Brian O’Driscoll – particularly when Keith Earls can be called upon to provide real speed out wide.
Cave is neither young, nor inexperienced, but to select him in his best position (no matter what jersey he wears) would be another mark of trust and confidence in this group of players. The same faith could also be extended toward Iain Henderson.
The lock, though playing as a blindside flanker, is clearly full of confidence after running riot against Italian opposition. His pace, physicality and skill with the ball in hand will be a valuable asset for more than a decade to come.
Like Zebo, like Gilroy, the sooner he can be blooded, the better he can be for Irish rugby.
With front-line injuries stretching into double figures, there is no such thing as planning for the future.
