Analysis: Ireland must claim opening win

by Conor O’Shea

Sunday’s clash with Wales is absolutely massive because if Ireland do not get off to a good start, they will travel to France under huge pressure in the second week.

It is a big positive that the Leinster, Munster and Ulster players have had excellent Heineken Cup campaigns but Wales, who have been training in Spala will come in with a feelgood factor of their own after beating Ireland in the Rugby World Cup.

On that basis, I would not expect Declan Kidney to make too many changes from the tried and trusted.

He has never been what I would call an ageist coach over his career and does not dump players for the sake of it. That is something I agree with and it is no surprise that there is a very settled look to the core of the group he named on Monday.

Declan Kidney: has made surprise decisions in the past

There are plenty of less experienced options in the 32-man squad and it is true that Kidney has made surprise decisions from time to time. You can look back to Denis Hurley and Tomás O’Leary, who were brought through into starting roles in the Munster team during the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup in the 2007/8 season, and to the decision to bring Conor Murray to the Rugby World Cup ahead of O’Leary.

But when it comes to the final selection this time it may be that none or only one of the younger players will make the cut.

The Ireland coaches will recognise that there are areas that need to be looked at and with Brian O'Driscoll not in the mix, one of those is the outside backs, where there are talented players coming through.

Simon Zebo is one of those and he has struck me as a player with huge X-Factor since I first saw him at the Under-20 Rugby World Cup a couple of years ago and he has really kicked on since he got some opportunities for Munster this year.

Kidney could also take a risk by putting Eoin O’Malley alongside Gordon D’Arcy in the centre on the basis that O’Malley has looked good there for Leinster.

However, established players like Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney are playing outstanding rugby and the likes of D'Arcy, Keith Earls and Fergus McFadden are also right in the selection shake-up.

Overall, I think the 32-man squad is his way of seeing how people operate in an international environment but I don’t expect huge change when it comes to the match-day squad because it is so important that Ireland get off to a good start.

England: new broom sees Robshaw swept in

England have taken a totally different approach to Ireland by applying a steel broom and sweeping out lots of players in order to bring a new generation in.

Chris Robshaw is one of those and we are delighted for him at Harlequins that he has been made captain – not least because it means he must be in the team! We see every day here that he is very humble, works incredibly hard and is also a very nice bloke.

He will hopefully have a leadership group around him that will support him because he has been given a huge task.

England also have a new coach in Stuart Lancaster, who is someone I know well and is another very nice guy. He is a typical northern Englishman and the biggest problem for him will be not killing himself doing the job because he is so diligent and hard-working.

England will have difficult patches and not every decision will work but I think the great benefit of this campaign will be that a new generation of players who are their mid-20s will get exposed to international rugby and that will help England kick on in future.

I also think Stuart will go about things in a way people will enjoy and that they will like the way he comes across. In the end, it is about making the best of England’s resources and I wish Stuart and Chris well in every match that isn't against Ireland!

RTÉ Rugby analyst Conor O'Shea is Director of Rugby at Harlequins. He played 35 times for Ireland from 1993-2000.