Kidney's men to start with an Italian job
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Thursday February 04 2010
THERE'S two ways of looking at next weekend's opening Six Nations game for Ireland. You could look at it as the perfect way for Declan Kidney's charges to ease their way back into international competition.
Thing is it's not a very exciting prospect, not just for fans, but for the team too one would imagine. After waiting almost a year for their next competitve rugby match, players might reasonably have preferred a bigger game, one more fitting of their status in world rugby.
Either way Declan Kidney's going to have them prepared with his usual clinical excellence. They will beat Italy, how they do so shouldn't be observed too closely as a portent for the season ahead. If they go out and absolutely slaughter the Italians, remember but one thing – it's only Italy. If they could out and struggle past the Italians remember but one thing – it's only Italy.
More than likely this week's performance is going to be somewhere inbetween the two senarios outlined above. Not brilliant, not awful. The most interesting thing about this weekend's game will be who Kidney's chooses at ten – more than likely he'll stick with the tried and trusted in O'Gara, but Kidney has thrown curve balls before – it could be Sexton's time to usurp the reigning king.
