Despite being classed as the most conservative of the Six Nations coaches, Declan Kidney surprised a few people by naming five uncapped players along with four relative newcomers in a 32-man squad named ahead of Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales.
Leinster winger David Kearney, younger brother of Ireland and Lions fullback, Rob, earned himself a spot after a strong display and a try for the Ireland Wolfhounds last week in their 23-17 defeat to England Saxons.
Youngster, Simon Zebo of Munster, followed up his hat-trick for his province in the Heineken Cup, with another late score against the Saxons.
Leinster centre Eoin O’Malley, Munster back rower Peter O’Mahony and Connacht prop, Brett Wilkinson are also included.
All five have been promoted from the Wolfhounds’ squad, alongside single-capped internationals full-back Denis Hurley, lock Dan Tuohy and back rows Chris Henry and Rhys Ruddock.
Kidney is likely to announce his match-day 22 midweek for their first 6N match against Wales, and the cynics would suggest that none of the newbies will make it that far. With France as opponents to follow that match, the danger in trialling newcomers in two such critical matches when World Cup seeding places are at stake, might be a step too far for this conservative Munsterman.
However, Kidney has been known to throw the odd curve ball back at his critics, and his surprise selection of 21 year old Conor Murray to start as the test scrum half in the World Cup was the most recent example.
With Brian O’Driscoll out of the tournament with injury, and the pressing need to bring through the bones of a new generation of players, who knows, maybe “Deccie” might spring a few more surprises before the tournament is out.
32-member Ireland training squad for Wales match:
Forwards: R Best (Ulster), T Bowe (Ospreys), T Court (Ulster), S Cronin (Leinster), S Ferris (Ulster), C Healy (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster), C Henry (Ulster), S Jennings (Leinster), S O’Brien (Leinster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), P O’Connell (Munster), P O’Mahony (Munster), M Ross (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), R Ruddock (Leinster), D Tuohy (Ulster), B Wilkinson (Connacht).
Backs: G D’Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster), D Hurley (Munster), R Kearney (Leinster), D Kearney (Leinster), F McFadden (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), R O’Gara (Munster), E O’Malley (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster), J Sexton (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster), S Zebo (Munster).
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