Irish muscle up to face All Blacks

Ireland have gone for a mix of physical presence and experience in what coach Declan Kidney says is the strongest team he could have put out to meet the All Blacks in New Plymouth on Saturday.

With the big guns - or at least those of them that are fit - back after being rested in last Friday's hitout against the Barbarians in Limerick, Kidney unveiled a lineup showing 10 changes from that disappointing defeat.
So back this week are the recognisable names like Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy in midfield, like Ronan O'Gara at flyhalf, like big Jamie Heaslip at No 8, Donncha O'Callaghan in the second row and John Hayes up front.

In the two tightest calls of his lineup, Kidney has gone for the in-form Robert Kearney at fullback ahead of veteran Geordan Murphy, and reversed that rationale at flyhalf by opting for the vast experience of O'Gara ahead of the emerging Jonny Sexton.

But if you were looking for a theme in the selections, it might have come from one Irish scribe who suggested that, with the exception of O'Gara, Kidney has gone for physical presence where he might have had an alternative.

So that's meant strapping Irishmen like wing Andrew Trimble, fullback Kearney and loose forward John Muldoon have got the nod.

Muldoon and hooker Sean Cronin will win just their third caps while backup hooker John Fogarty and second-rower Dan Tuohy will make their debuts if they get the call off the bench.

Asked if this was his strongest team, Kidney said that was always his intention when settling on a test lineup.

"Whenever you pick your national team there's an onus on you to do that," he said today. "All these boys are training well. There were marginal calls to be made in several positions but that's the job of the coach to make those calls."

Kidney also shrugged off any suggestion he had one eye on next year's World Cup during this visit that takes in three cities they will play in.

"When you're playing the No 1-ranked team in the world the only thing you have your eyes fixed on is them, because if you take eyes off them you're going to get a thumping," added the Ireland coach who goes up against the All Blacks for the second time.

"Saturday is the reason why you get into sport - to play the best teams in the world, especially on their own home patch. We'll see how we go against them. And what happens after that will look after itself."

In terms of the selection of O'Gara ahead of Leinster's Sexton who's pushing him hard for permanent possession of the No 10 jersey, Kidney confirmed experience played a part in the decision.

"Ronan has been playing well over the last couple of months and we felt he deserved this fixture... we just think Ronan is the right guy for this game for a mixture of reasons, and experience is one of them."

Skipper Brian O'Driscoll also denied any edge for his side against an All Blacks side missing a raft of regular first-choice players.

"You could say exactly the same about ourselves," said the hugely experienced centre. "A vast number of guys have dropped out of our tour as well, so it depends what way you look at it.

"Every time I've played the All Blacks it's been very tough. You have to bring your A game if you want to live with them, and it will be no different this weekend."

O'Driscoll described his team as hungry and said he hoped some of the fresh faces would help bring a level of enthusiasm that could be useful.

"This is their opportunity to shine, and they bring that spark that some of us old-timers need," added O'Driscoll. "It's exciting times for the likes of John Muldoon and Sean Cronin who get their starts after big seasons, and with a bit of luck they'll take their opportunities."

Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks in 105 years of trying, but like always they're hopeful as they get one more shot at that elusive scalp.

IRELAND: 15 Robert Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (capt), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary; 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy. Reserves: 16 John Fogarty, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Dan Tuohy, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Geordan Murphy.

- © Fairfax NZ News