Kidney's first selection : Ireland Team V. Canada

[Mentalman]

Ireland Team (V Canada, GUINNESS Series 2008, Thomond Park, Saturday November 8th, 17:15)

15 – Keith Earls* (Young Munster/Munster)

14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 – Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain

12 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

11 – Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

10 – Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

9 – Eoin Reddan (Wasps)

1 – Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)

2 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)

3 – Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)

4 – Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

5 – Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

7 – Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements to be selected from the following 8:

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)

[lynchbhoy]

good backs , interesting selection

what are the options for the front row ?

I still am not convinced about flannery - what about the ulster guy  -best? are his lineout throws improved any ?
if so I'd pick him ahead of flannery.
Horan was good  (well good in open play) but must be pushing on now ?

whos the substitute lock ?

[Hoof Hearted]

is this on TV ? I assume it is.

[Whacker]

Think it is a very good mixture of youth and experience. Looking forward to see how Ferris gets on and Shane Jennings also.  I feel that they are however playing Irelands best full-back, not in the full back position.  Kearney should be in there with Earls at 13.  However they are very dynamic and for once in a long time you can see a big score being racked up.  All about the RWC points at this stage.  In Thomand Park, Kidney's first match- its all set up for Ireland.  Can they deliver? Everlasting questing under Eddie, which hopefully Kidney can put right!  

[Mentalman]

Interesting selection but I'm wondering about this:

Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Is there any point? Is this lad going to be given a run out or would Kidney not be better off putting in one of the young contenders and giving them time in these types of games. Poor old Paddy, beginning to feel sorry for him at this stage.

[ludermor]

Id say Wallace is there as much for the centre positions as out half.
Im very surprised he has given so many of the fringe players a game, some difference from Steady Eddie. Cant wait to see how Earls preforms.

[nifan]

Glad to see Ferris getting a run out.

[Tankie]

I would have preferred to see Kearney at full back! looks like Jackman wont be getting a game under the Kidney rein!

[Jim_Murphy_74]

Id say Wallace is there as much for the centre positions as out half.

No doubt.  Given his experience Kidney might put him ahead of Fitzgerald for the All-Blacks and Argie games.

/Jim.