Kidney brushes aside Ferris fitness concerns

Ireland coach Declan Kidney insists he is not taking a risk with Stephen Ferris' fitness - despite the flanker sitting out Friday's training.

Ferris has been out of action for the past three weeks and his inclusion in the starting XV was delayed earlier this week.

The Lions tourist was finally handed the No.6 shirt but doubts still surround whether he should be playing against France this afternoon.

“No, no, he’s grand, he’s fine,” said Kidney. “The reason I’m loath to say he’s 100 per cent is because I don’t know if any of us are 100 per cent.

“He’s charging away at training, he wanted to train, but we just held him back. He’s good.”

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O'Connell: we have the belief to beat France

Ireland Lock Paul O'Connell is confident his side can produce an upset against Six Nations favourites France tomorrow, despite their poor record in the French Capital.

Declan Kidney’s side travel to the Stade de France hoping to claim only their third victory over France in Paris since 1952.

But O’Connell, who enjoyed his first taste over victory over France last year, says beating the Les Bleus on their own patch will be the next step for the Grand Slam champions to establish themselves as a world force.

“If we beat France away from home it will be an incredible feeling and a good box ticked,” said the Lions captain.

“It would be a highlight in my career. In my earlier years I looked at guys like Peter Clohessy having very tough times over there.

“Irish teams sometimes went to Paris with high hopes, sometimes not, but always came off second best.

“But it's got to the stage now where we believe we can go over there and win. Now we need to actually do it.

“We've always taken talented teams to Paris but now we're going there with a Grand Slam. You can't argue with that.

“We had an okay autumn, the results were good, so we're going over there in a better position than ever before.”

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O'Gara demands end to Paris heartache

Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara says the first 20 minutes against France this weekend will make-or-break their chances of ending their Six Nations winless run in Paris.

The Irish have achieved just one Championship win on French soil – a 27-25 win in 2000 – since the inception of the Six Nations.

But Grand Slam champions Ireland are full of confidence after an unbeaten 2009 and making a steady, if unspectacular, start in the 29-11 defeat of Italy.

And O’Gara, who did not miss a kick in his 16-point haul against the Azzurri, knows winning in the Stade de France is Ireland’s next stage in proving themselves as a world force.

O’Gara said: “From the national point of view it’s been a long time – it’s been too long. We’d be keen to address that this weekend.

“I think we’ve always given them too much of a head start on the games over there.

“They’re a formidable team when you let them play their game and they’re on the front foot.

“Usually we’re 20 or 30 points down and I don’t know is it them giving up or tiring a small bit but we usually get back into it, but it’s always too late.

“So a good start will be imperative this weekend. That’s exactly what we’re concentrating on – the first 20.

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Ronan O'Gara kicked six from six for Ireland

Ronan O'Gara turned in a perfect kicking display as Ireland brushed aside Italy 29-11 in the opening fixture of the Six Nations at Croke Park.

It was a far from vintage performance from last year’s Grand Slam winners, but O’Gara – back in the No.10 shirt following the autumn tests – contributed 16 points while lock Leo Cullen destroyed the Italian lineout.

Tries from No.8 Jamie Heaslip and scrum-half Tomas O’Leary in the first half helped put Ireland in the driving seat but Declan Kidney will be worried both by his team’s lack of a cutting edge and by the manner in which Munster’s O’Gara limped off in the second half.

After an Italian offence at the scrum, O’Gara made no mistake with a tenth-minute penalty to pass the 500-point barrier in the Championship.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as O’Gara demonstrated his gifts with the ball in hand whipping a perfect flat pass for Andrew Trimble to run onto.

The Ulster winger broke down the line and the ball was superbly worked wide for Heaslip to run over with O’Gara adding the extras.

Neither side were really able to find their rhythm but on 26 minutes the Azzurri scrum exacted some revenge by forcing Ireland into conceding a penalty and Six Nations debutant Craig Gower stepped up to land a huge 45m penalty.

But no sooner had they got on the board than lock Carlo Del Fava was pinged for holding on and O’Gara restored Ireland’s ten-point lead.

Things went from bad to worse on 33 minutes when centre Gonzalo Garcia was sinbinned for a spear tackle on Brian O’Driscoll and Ireland would take advantage of the extra man.

Lock Cullen, making his first Six Nations start in seven years, once again stole Italy lineout ball and from the resulting ruck O’Leary needed no second invitation to dive over with O’Gara’s conversion giving them a commanding 23-3 lead.

But Ireland’s first half was blotted when Rob Kearney gathered a difficult bouncing ball only to fire his clearance straight at Kaine Robertson who gleefully dived over. Mirco Bergamasco took on the kicking duties from Gower but was off target with the conversion.

Bergamasco did though did split the posts with a penalty just after halftime but just like they did in the first half Ireland responded immediate through O’Gara to make it 26-11.

After O’Gara made exited the fray on 66 minutes and his replacement Paddy Wallace immediately added another penalty.

There were no fireworks in a turgid ending and the result will give both coaches plenty to ponder.

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O'Gara back as injury rules out Sexton.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara will win his 94th cap in Ireland's Six Nations opener with Italy after Leinster sensation Jonathan Sexton was ruled out through injury.

Sexton had been set to keep his place at ten after an impressive display in the autumn win over world champions South Africa but a dead leg has ruled him out.

That means O’Gara gets his chance with Leinster’s Kevin McLaughlin also in line for his debut in the back-row alongside David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip.

Andrew Trimble is back on the left-wing for his first start since March 2008 instead of Lions tourist Keith Earls and Gordon D’Arcy will partner Brian O’Driscoll in the centres for the defending champions.

Ulster hooker Rory Best’s rapid recovery from neck surgery has been rewarded with a place on the bench after he played in Ireland A’s defeat to the England Saxons.

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Trimble set to return

Ulster winger Andrew Trimble insists his injury troubles are a thing of the past after being tipped to start for Ireland in their opening Six Nations match against Italy.

The 25-year-old missed much of last term with a knee injury but served a reminder of his talents with a stunning Heineken Cup try against Bath two weeks ago.

And after catching the eye of Ireland boss Declan Kidney, Trimble, who has bagged 40 points in 25 international starts, is set to start ahead of Keith Earls and Shane Horgan.

“I think this year has been hard work. It was a long pre-season with the operation and the ten weeks off my feet and getting back into it,” said Trimble, who appeared as a replacement against Fiji in November having not represented the senior side since 2008.

“I enjoyed working hard and then when the games started I tried to get myself more momentum as Ulster did as well.

“I have been really enjoying my rugby over the last while.

“Especially the last couple of games in the Heineken Cup. I am feeling fit and feeling fast, getting more and more confidence with every game I have played this year for Ulster.

“Now there is a bigger challenge ahead. The Six Nations is the next target, there are opportunities there.

“But there are also a lot of guys playing really well at the minute too. I am not the only one who is playing reasonably well.

“Shane Horgan, Keith Earls and Tommy Bowe are all playing well. A lot of guys are doing great stuff. So it will be a case of wait and see what happens.”

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Bradley tips front-row pair to feature in the RBS 6 Nations

Ireland A coach Michael Bradley has underlined the importance of front-rowers Marcus Horan and Rory Best ahead of the Six Nations.

Both started Sunday’s Ireland A’s 13-17 defeat to England Saxons, although Best was taken off midway through as a precaution.

And although the opening fixture against Italy may come too soon for the pair, Bradley has backed the duo to play an integral part for the Ireland in their Grand Slam defence.

He said: “It's very important for Irish rugby that both Rory and Marcus are available for Declan and the Six Nations.

“They are not quite there yet and may not be considered for the Italy game, but there are four mighty games after that and the more games they get, the better it is for Irish rugby.”

Bradley also believes Paddy Wallace – who featured started at fly-half – is in the line to get the nod to play centre, ahead of in-form Gordon D'Arcy.

He said: “Paddy went well at 10 although he hasn't played much rugby in that position recently.

“He is a player who has been involved all the time with Ireland and he doesn't even need to force his way back in. He's already there.

“He would have to be omitted. It's up to other players like Gordon or Jonathan Sexton to get ahead of him because it's Paddy's jersey.”

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