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Kidney pinpoints November Tests

Thursday 07th August 2008

Kidney: Waiting before naming his captain

New Ireland coach Declan Kidney discussed several issues in what was something of a mission statement in Cork on Thursday.

Sat alongside his coaching team of Paul McNaughton, Gert Smal, Alan Gaffney and Les Kiss, the former Munster orchestrator outlined the importance of the forthcoming November Tests in what was a very positive conference.

"It's been great, nerve-racking in terms of trying to get everything right and things off to a good start," he said, speaking to The Irish Times.

"We invited 45 players in. We have been trying to get a balance between the provincial pre-season - it's slightly shorter this year - and striking that balance between the rugby and the conditioning work.

"The aims - rather than giving you the outlandish ones of trying to enjoy myself...hoping that we do as well as we possibly can - can be broken down to results and performance.

"November is more important than it has ever been this year. There's IRB ranking points (available) and wherever we stand on December 1 is going to have an effect on the draw for the next World Cup. It has a three-year effect how we go in the next three matches."

Ireland's November internationals consist of taking on Canada and Argentina before a tough encounter against New Zealand to wrap matters up.

After that debut, Kidney will turn his attention to Six Nations rugby as he looks to lift the gloom that has settled over the Irish game over recent months.

However, the 48-year-old's European exploits with his old province should surely stand current captain Brian O'Driscoll's men in good stead over the first year - but it remains unclear who will wear the armband.

"Brian and myself have been talking and taking a look at things," Kidney continued.

"Come November we'll take a good look at it and see how things are. I think it's important he gets a chance to concentrate on his own game. He's been shouldering things for the last five years. We'll see how things go.

"You don't win three Triple Crowns and throw that away too easily. At the same time you want to give him a small bit of space. It wouldn't be usual to name a captain at the start of a set-up."