Keith Wood believes Ireland are in for an “incredibly tough” test against Italy, and regardless of the result Declan Kidney will not continue.
Wood says Ireland can win “If we play in the right areas of the field”, but warned that the Iralians – who have looked very good so far this year – will provide an serious test, as “this is the whole season” for them.
On Kidney, Wood feels a lack of decisiveness has weakened the coach’s position. “An awful lot of the changes that he has made in the last period of time seem to have come a little too late for him to maybe hold on.”
“They have been hampered by all those injuries and elements of that but I don’t Ireland have performed well in the last twelve months and invariably that ends with the coach taking the flack.”
In other, non-Kidney or Six Nations news – Dan Carter’s been tweeting about hurling. The New Zealand number 10 sent the following tweets this morning
He’s not the first All Black to pick up a hurl and puck around in earnest however, as Wood explained when he told a story about his time at Harlequins with the legendary All Black, Zinzan Brooke.
You know there are plenty of Irish in Chch when you drive past your local park to see lads practising their #Hurling
— Dan Carter (@DanCarter) March 15, 2013
Yeah I've given it a go but think I'll stick to rugby #Hurling twitter.com/DanCarter/stat…
— Dan Carter (@DanCarter) March 15, 2013
