by Brendan Cole
Rory Best has been named in Ireland team to face Wales in Saturday’s RWC 2011 quarter-final clash with Wales, while Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray are to continue in the half-back positions.
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The hooker was forced off by a shoulder injury after 50-minutes during Ireland’s 36-6 Pool C victory over Italy last Sunday. He has been picked on a ‘wait and see’ basis. The AC joint shoulder injury has responded well to treatement and Best has done some scrummaging and lineout practice this week, and will continue to be monitored by Ireland's medical staff.
Should he fail to recover full fitness in time for the match, Sean Cronin will take his place in the starting XV with Damian Varley stepping up to take his place on the bench.
Head coach Declan Kidney said Best would be given every chance to prove his fitness.
He explained: "We have to put a team in 48 hours before kick-off. The decision could go right to the end, we'll make it when we have to make it.
Pictured: Rory Best at training on Tuesday
"I wouldn't want to tempt fate by rating Rory's chances, but he's not ruled out which is always the first sign. He had a good day yesterday which everyone was very positive about. He's making great progress and we're taking it one day at a time."
The rest of the team is also unchanged.
Cian Healy is named at loosehead with Mike Ross at tighthead. Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan in the second row with O'Callaghan set to win his 80th Ireland cap. Stephen Ferris , Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip will start in the back-row.
Cronin, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan and Denis Leamy are the substitute forwards.
Kidney has resisted the urge to make changes in his backline, opting to stick with Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray at out-half and scrum-half respectively.
Jonathan Sexton and Eoin Reddan are again named on the bench, along with Andrew Trimble.
Kidney said: "Half-back is the most competitive area of the team. I know it's unconventional to use different half-backs at different times.
"When they've been on the pitch they've brought their own things to it. For example Jonathan was hugely strong for us in defence in the last 10 minutes against Italy.
"Eoin robbed two great balls for us in the last 10-15 minutes. Leaving them out isn't easy, but Conor and Ronan have gone quite well for us."
Kidney not worried about O'Gara defence
But Kidney is not concerned about Wales targetting O'Gara and expects an varied attack from a team Ireland have consistently described as 'improved' this week.
He added: "They have quite an array of places where they can attack, I don't think they'll pick anyone in particular.
"Wales are a better side now because before you knew where they would attack, but now they attack other places too. It's going to be a case of everyone defending their own zone."
Tommy Bowe continues on the right wing with Keith Earls on the left and Rob Kearney at full-back. Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll will start in the centres with O’Driscoll set to win his 117th cap.
Ireland expect a difficult match on Saturday with Kidney keen to emphasise strong record at RWC 2011 and before and the freshness in Warren Gatland's team.
Kidney added: "Playing Wales is a huge challenge. They got the better of us in March and are going well. They only lost to the kick of a ball against South Africa, otherwise they'd be on four wins from four games.
"They beat England and Argentina during the warm up games as well. They have a few younger players who have brought their own spark. The senior guys are showing good form too.
"They're showing different trends in the way they play, but are more unpredictable than before. If it was possible to read them before, it's more difficult now."
Ireland team to play Wales in the RWC 2011 quarter-final at Westpac Stadium, Saturday 8 October, 6am (Irish time):
15. Rob Kearney 14. Tommy Bowe 13. Brian O’Driscoll 12. Gordon D’Arcy 11. Keith Earls 10. Ronan O’Gara 9. Conor Murray 1. Cian Healy 2. Rory Best 3. Mike Ross 4. Donncha O’Callaghan 5. Paul O’Connell 6. Stephen Ferris 7. Sean O’Brien 8. Jamie Heaslip
16. Sean Cronin 17. Tom Court 18. Donnacha Ryan 19. Denis Leamy 20. Eoin Reddan 21. Jonathan Sexton. 22. Andrew Trimble
