2pm We’ll leave it here, Roisin. The broadcast segment of the press conference is below for repeated viewings if that’s what you’re into.
We’ll have a Champions League liveblog tonight, by the way.
1.57pm BOD: ”I don’t think we’re very far away from clicking, we’re working hard on the training park to make sure we do produce that performance but we do need things to go our way and cut out a few errors.”
1.53pm Wales are favourites; am I bothered asks Brian O’Driscoll?
“We don’t pay all that much attention to who are favourites and who are underdogs. But sides have had a bit of mixed form in this Six Nations. But I think everyone’s aware that if these teams click they can both play a lot of rugby.
“And that makes for what could be an entertaining game,” the skipper adds
1.50pm “A huge game ahead of us. That game two years ago, there was literally a kick of a ball between the sides.
“These lads play each other three times a year and the fact that they know each other so well, space is going to be at a premium. It will be one of those that whoever takes their chances at the time will come out on top,” says Kidney.
1.47pm Kidney: “Everything points to not a lot being between us. Going into Cardiff, depending on how old you, the Cardiff Arms Park was always a very daunting task.
“Myself I was more the JPR Williams and Barry Johns time and you always knew the Cardiff Arms was a full task.”
1.43pm Kidney answers a question about the numbers drafted into the squad from former RTE commentator Fred Cogley who particulates in these media events for the IRFU.
“We always try to train with 30 because it gives more match-like conditions and also you never know when an opening is going to come through.
We tailored that ever so slightly during season with a bigger picture in mind so that lads no where we’re at and also to help the provinces,” he replies.
1.39pm “There was a couple of bangs and knocks with the Magners League games but we thought they were always in line to heal up so they were well in the frame. So were a few of the lads who were unfortunate to not to get picked,” says the coach. But still, no changes.
The replacements are Sean Cronin, Court, Culen, Leamy, Stringer, Sexton, Wallace.
1.36pm Kidney gets straight down to business, typically. and there’s no surprises whatsoever in naming an unchanged team.
For the record it’s: Luke Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon Darcy, Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara, Eoin Reddan, Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Sean O’Brien, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip
1.32pm: Declan Kidney emerges, the dictaphones are placed on the top table by the press pack and we’re off.
Preamble: DECLAN KIDNEY WILL name his Ireland side to face Wales on Saturday in the next hour.
The Corkman is likely to stick with the team that started in the recent victory over Scotland. He has the luxury of a fully-fit panel to choose from.
We’ll carry the news here as it happens.
Ireland’s opponents, Wales, have made three changes to the team that beat Italy in Rome 10 days ago – and skipper Matthew Rees is good to go.
James Hook returns to fly-half instead of Stephen Jones. Jonathan Davies is back in the centre while Leigh Halfpenny starts named on the wing instead of Morgan Stoddart.
Captain Rees starts at hooker and the Sale scrum-half Dwayne Peel is on the bench instead of Tavis Knoyle.
Les Bleus
France, meanwhile, have made three changes to his team for Saturday’s clash with Italy on Saturday. Coach Marc Lievremont has kept faith with number eight Sebastien Chabal, however, despite a poor display against England.
Julien Bonnaire returns to the side in place of Imanol Harinordoquy on the side of the scrum. Lievremont said:
“I watched the (England) game again. His performance, as well as Clement Poitrenaud’s and Yoann Huget’s, did not seem disastrous to me.
The coach has also retained scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili, leaving Morgan Parra on the bench.
France are third in the standings, level on points with second-placed Wales and fourth-placed Ireland.
Wales side (to face Ireland): L Byrne; L Halfpenny, J Davies, J Roberts, S Williams; J Hook, M Phillips; P James, M Rees, C Mitchell, B Davies, AW Jones, D Lydiate, S Warburton, R Jones
Replacements: R Hibbard, J Yapp, D Peel, S Jones, M Stoddart, Plus two from: R McCusker, A Powell, J Thomas
