ULSTER HOOKER RORY BEST will skipper Ireland in the absence of Paul O’Connell this weekend.
O’Connell was ruled out of the rest of the championships — along with Connor Murray — earlier this week.
Today, Declan Kidney has named Best as the stand-in skipper as well as handing starting berths to Donnacha Ryan and Eoin Reddan.
Ryan lines out alongside Donncha O’Callghan in the second row while Leinster man Reddan comes in for Murray at scrum-half.
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“Obviously it’s a great honour to be asked to captain the side on Saturday,” said Best. “You know, it’s something that you always dream of doing and it was very unfortunate that Paulie’s out, he’s going to be a huge loss but I was very honoured when Declan asked me.”
Kidney insisted Best’s elevation to skipper won’t disrupt preparations. “Rory and myself have worked together as coach and captain on a tour to Canada so it’s not exactly new to us,” he said.
“And the lads coming in, Donnacha Ryan has been doing a lot of work with us over the past couple of weeks – and so has Eoin Reddan. So they’re looking forward to the opportunity and we’ve just been working our way through it.”
Ireland drew with France on Sunday having held a commanding half-time lead. They were eventually reeled in to draw 17-17.
Evans denied hitting Alasdair McCaig, 29, with a glass during an altercation in an Edinburgh nightclub in August 2010. Following a five-day trial, it took a jury at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court less than an hour to find the 28-year-old not guilty.
Irish golfer Shane Lowry watches training with coach Neil Manchip (right). Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
The player returned to training with his international team-mates on Monday afternoon, and is among the replacements for the Six Nations trip to Dublin.
If I was burdened with the job of choosing the team for the game against Scotland my starting XV would be… 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 James Downey, 11 Luke FitzGerald, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Eoin Redden, 1 Cian Healy, 2 Sean Cronin, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 Sean O’Brien, 8 Chris Henry. The subs would be Rory Best, Tom Court, James Coughlan, Rhys Ruddock, Ronan O’Gara, Issac Boss and Andrew Trimble.
Apart from loyalty I can’t see any reason to include Jamie Heaslip, Donncha O’Callaghan, Gordon D’Arcy or Fergus McFadden. They’ve all been mediocre at best for both club and country over the past 12 months and could do with the wake up call. A perfect example is Luke Fitzgerald. Since his exclusion from the World Cup squad he’s knuckled down and some of his performances of late have been nothing short of brilliant.
With nothing but pride to play for Kidney has bottled it with his selection again!! Apart from the forced changes he’s decided to go the same old route picking players whose form has dipped dramatically and is still opting to play some players in positions their not comfortable in.
Kidney for the Lions job… no better still, Kidney for England!!
Trimble isn’t doing badly. He’s beefed up and put in some good hits on Sunday. Not sure who I’d pick between him and Earls.
Drop D’Arcy is a mantra I think we’ve all been saying for a long time. Him and O’Callaghan while serving us well for years, need to retire from international rugby. As Neil Young said, “it’s better to burn out that fade away” and at the moment these guys may be remembered for hanging on too long and for having a bad end to stellar international careers.
I’d be tempted to bring Bowe into the centre for D’Arcy but I’d stick with him on the wing and bring McFadden in.
I’d also drop Healsip. He’s an outstanding rugby player but he’s not on form. I’d take this opportunity to see what he’s made of. Bring O’Mahony in and see is Heaslip up for winning his place back. No player should be automatically on the team sheet and it’s time guys like Heaslip & O’Brien fought for their places.
Another wasted team selection.
Please kidney just quit, you have no ideas and offer nothing new.
Tomas o Leary in the 22 is a joke and anyone who doesn’t think this is munster bias lives in kidney land.
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Give us your 15 please Paul.
If I was burdened with the job of choosing the team for the game against Scotland my starting XV would be… 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 James Downey, 11 Luke FitzGerald, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Eoin Redden, 1 Cian Healy, 2 Sean Cronin, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 Sean O’Brien, 8 Chris Henry. The subs would be Rory Best, Tom Court, James Coughlan, Rhys Ruddock, Ronan O’Gara, Issac Boss and Andrew Trimble.
Apart from loyalty I can’t see any reason to include Jamie Heaslip, Donncha O’Callaghan, Gordon D’Arcy or Fergus McFadden. They’ve all been mediocre at best for both club and country over the past 12 months and could do with the wake up call. A perfect example is Luke Fitzgerald. Since his exclusion from the World Cup squad he’s knuckled down and some of his performances of late have been nothing short of brilliant.
I’d love to see O’Mahony come on for Heaslip instead of O’Brien and have O’Brien in 8 with O’Mahony and Ferris on either side.
What’s your preferred 15 then Paul?
With nothing but pride to play for Kidney has bottled it with his selection again!! Apart from the forced changes he’s decided to go the same old route picking players whose form has dipped dramatically and is still opting to play some players in positions their not comfortable in.
Kidney for the Lions job… no better still, Kidney for England!!
Drop Heaslip to bench – OMahony in
Earls to wing – drop Trimble
McFadden in centre – drop Darcy
Trimble isn’t doing badly. He’s beefed up and put in some good hits on Sunday. Not sure who I’d pick between him and Earls.
Drop D’Arcy is a mantra I think we’ve all been saying for a long time. Him and O’Callaghan while serving us well for years, need to retire from international rugby. As Neil Young said, “it’s better to burn out that fade away” and at the moment these guys may be remembered for hanging on too long and for having a bad end to stellar international careers.
I’d be tempted to bring Bowe into the centre for D’Arcy but I’d stick with him on the wing and bring McFadden in.
I’d also drop Healsip. He’s an outstanding rugby player but he’s not on form. I’d take this opportunity to see what he’s made of. Bring O’Mahony in and see is Heaslip up for winning his place back. No player should be automatically on the team sheet and it’s time guys like Heaslip & O’Brien fought for their places.
good luck.saturday Rory SUFTUM!
Good luck Brad. COYBIB!
Another wasted team selection.
Please kidney just quit, you have no ideas and offer nothing new.
Tomas o Leary in the 22 is a joke and anyone who doesn’t think this is munster bias lives in kidney land.
Thought Best was out with bruised ribs?…..