Nothing intelligent about AI selection

Perhaps not unexpectedly, Declan Kidney has decided on naming pretty much the same starting team as that which took the pitch in Ireland’s last outing against Wales back in April. There are just two changes, with Paddy Wallace returning to reclaim the 12 jersey from Gordan Darcy, and Cian Healy replacing Marcus Horan at loosehead.

As the form prop playing in Ireland in 2009, it was widely predicted that Healy would come in to make his well deserved debut. However one wonders what Kidney would have done had Horan not been ruled out through illness, especially with the Irish coach’s fondness for selecting players that have played under him in the past.

Bearing this in mind, Kidney’s decision to start an out of form Ronan O’Gara does not defy belief, even if it does defy logic. For Ireland, last season’s AIs were all about maintaining their top 8 world ranking, but this year, while a few victories over southern hemisphere opposition would be very welcome, defeat would not be disastrous, and now would perhaps have been the time to follow the lead of other countries who have in the past used the AIs to rotate the squad and to introduce younger talent in crucial positions.

Regardless of Sexton’s superior form this season, and the fact that he has taken ROG to school on the last two occasions they have lined out opposite each other, the upcoming tests would surely have been the perfect games to experiment and for players such as Sexton to be given their chance to stake their claim against top-class opposition, rather than meaningless Ireland A or Churchill Cup fixtures.

All that being said though, I must confess I feel somewhat divided as to my thoughts on the selection or otherwise of Leinster players for the Ireland team.

While it is a great achievement and honour for all players to play for their national team, there is a part of me that would really rather the Leinster contingent were not so heavily involved.

Coming hot on the heels of the Autumn Internationals, Leinster face a crucial Heineken Cup double-header against the Llanelli Scarlets, games that will surely be vital to determining the boys in blue’s success this season.

As witnessed on the Lions tour, the potential for injury against South Africa and their physical style of play, is very real, and we would be lucky not to pick up at least one casualty or two.

The threat of suspension to key players must also not be ignored, especially given the precedent set by the judgment against Shane Jennings, which appears to effectively outlaw the hand-off.

In a team of the quality of European champions Leinster it is inevitable that it will contain a large contingent of internationals. This is obviously not the worst problem for a supporter of any team to have, however as a Leinster fan first and Ireland fan second I would certainly be hoping that success for BOD, Fitzgerald, Heaslip et.al for Ireland, does not come at the expense of success with Leinster.

Last season was a bountiful year for Irish and Leinster Rugby but if pushed I would certainly find myself favoring a repeat of Leinster’s Heineken Cup success rather than another grand slam victory.

Here’s hoping for both.