Kidney unveils Ireland squad

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has named nine uncapped players in his 39-strong squad for the November Tests against Australia, Fiji and South Africa.

Connacht duo Sean Cronin and Brett Wilkinson and Leinster pair Cian Healy and John Forgarty will all be hoping to force their way into the reckoning for a place in the front row. The highly-rated Healy, in particular, is expected to feature at some stage during the autumnal programme.

Meanwhile, Ulster number eight Chris Henry and Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien have been rewarded for their recent good form with back-row berths. O’Brien’s provincial team-mate, giant second row Devin Toner, has also made the panel.

There are also two uncapped Leinster men included in the backs, the ever-improving Jonathan Sexton, who is being tipped to put Ronan O’Gara under pressure for the number ten jersey in the coming weeks, and promising centre Fergus McFadden.

However, there is no place in the squad for Leinster veterans Malcolm O’Kelly and Girvan Dempsey, or Ulster playmaker Ian Humphreys, who has enjoyed an excellent start to the new season.

London Irish lock Bob Casey, who captained the Exiles to a fine win over Leinster at the RDS earlier this month, has also missed out. Leicester Tigers skipper Geordan Murphy was unavailable for selection through injury. Munster hooker Jerry Flannery is currently sidelined with a calf injury but he has been included.

Kidney revealed that he is happy with the strength of his squad and insisted that those who were omitted could yet get a chance to impress in the upcoming A internationals.

“We had an opportunity to work with most of the players selected in this squad over our three camps during the summer,” the former Munster boss said.

“Those sessions were about giving chances to as many players as possible following last year and after a third of the season gone so far, this November squad gives the majority of those players a chance to put their cases forward for selection.

“November represents a challenge on several fronts with three full internationals and two A games against quality opposition, so it will mean that the strength of our resources will be tested.

“The games so far this season have given plenty of options in terms of competition for places. There were some hard calls made in selection, which is what you want, and players not included today will come into the reckoning for the two games against Tonga and Argentina Jaguars.

“We now have to try and come up with the combinations to not only win against some of the best teams in the world, with two of those sides ranked above us, but also continue to develop the international experience levels for some of those players.”(source)