Hardly a name that will be remembered by generations of Irish rugby fans. But it should be – Micko is a stalwart of the professional era, and reached a significant milestone on Saturday night when he earned his 200th cap for Munster, fittingly as captain, in his 12th season (he spent 2 years in Catalunya from 2003-05). The domestique of Irish rugby, he puts in the dirty minutes in an empty Rodney Parade and unquestioningly returns to the bench when Thomond Park fills up for big European nights. It’s Farrelly-esque to say that someone never gives less than 100% and never lets anyone down, but it is appropriate for Micko.

Micko’s professionalism and durability is remarkable, and he most certainly will be able to retire saying he made the most of his talent. It’s worth noting that Micko has never been first choice in his Munster career, being stuck behind Gaillimh, John Langford, Paulie, Stakhanov O’Callaghan and recently Donnacha Ryan, yet the majority of his 200 caps have been as a starter, which shows the trust that multiple coaches have put in Micko to lead the Celtic/Magners/Rabo league dirt trackers.

His best years were assuredly the 3 seasons from 2008-2011 where he led Munster to 2 league titles, consistently out-performed Stakhanov and famously played on an almost-but-not-quite night against New Zealand, when he was simply sensational, leading a team shorn of 10 internationals to within minutes of a stunning victory over a team containing Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Kieran Read and, errrr, Thomas the Tank Engine’s brother (Ooooooohhh!!).

The moment that we will never forget is in 2009, when Munster lifted the Magners League trophy. The occasion was set to a desperately disappointing backdrop, being in the shadow of that defeat to Leinster, but Micko led the troops to yet another win, and, fittingly, was invited by provincial captain Paulie to lift the trophy. The class of the occasion was only matched by the Paul Derbyshire moment after the 2011 win.

Of the 23 players used by Ireland to win the 2009 Grand Slam, only 1 played zero minutes – Micko; yet you never would have worried if either of the second rows had pulled up injured (well, maybe a little if Paulie got hurt), such was his reliability. And if he owed his place to Mal O’Kelly’s errant timekeeping as much as his own qualities, well that’s not his lookout.  He did come off the bench in both HEC finals, but, unsurprisingly, and uncomplainingly, didn’t start either. For such a committed player in a notoriously dirty position, it’s also worth noting that his recent yellow card against Treviso was only his second ever and his first in 6 years, playing and thriving in a physical side not renowned for their discipline.

If only there was some term to convey the almost mythical, fabled, nature of his contribution… 

Mick O’Driscoll – we salute you!

Jerome Thion [France]: Thion is in the prime of his life as a second row: 33 years old, 115kgs, 45 starts for France and two World Cups. The Biarritz man has locked the French scrum with Lionel Nallet in a lot of big games but has been surplus to requirements since the defeat to Italy.

After that game, Clouseau blasted his players:

“Maybe they were too much in the comfort zone. Do I feel responsible for that? No, they betrayed us, they have betrayed me and they have betrayed the French national team shirt.

“In terms of the tactics deployed, it defied belief. I did not recognise anything in their performance that we had worked on.

“Do you really think that I told them to play as they did against Italy? I was ashamed. I do not have the impression we asked them to walk on the moon. I do not ask for complicated things.

“This match was an hallucination. I do not want to clear myself from the blame but they invented things on the pitch.”

Not from the Alex Ferguson school of management, so. Thion seems to have been labeled a surrender monkey by his gaffer, quite a fall for a former captain of France. The French are well served by second rows but Thion is tall timber and there are many others who’d love to have him on their side.

Chris Jack [NZ]: Jack is another two time World Cup veteran who could easily be lacing up his boots in this tournament, particularly considering that Brad Thorn is older and still manages to be one of Graham Henry’s prefects.

Maxime Medard is currently rocking the best mutton chops in world rugby but for a number of years, Jack was the heir apparent to JPR. The 67 times capped Jack was NZ Player of the Year in 2002. However, Jack wasn’t in the team that lost to France, Ali Williams and Keith Robertson getting the nod for that chapter of NZ RWC history. He, like many of his peers, went on his travels after the 2007 World Cup, pitching up at Saracens.

“As a person with a young family, All Black rugby is just too tough. You are on the road for three to four months and that’s not fair on them. All that travel and pressure really impacted on my decision to come here.” Jack remedied his travel woes by moving on from London after two years, before signing for Western Province in South Africa and then Canterbury. Reports in NZ have Jack eyeing up a move to Japan – the Land of the Long, Green Yen – before retirement.

The reason he left London? “I’m not going back just to muck around. If I wanted to muck around I would have stayed up there,” he told reporters in Sydney.

“I want to come back and I want to play well. If I wanted to play easy rugby I would have stayed up in the northern hemisphere.”

“I want to play good rugby again. I want to play challenging rugby and I want to enjoy it,” he said.

“The (English) Premiership gets a bit tough after a while of the same sort of stuff. It’s good to play some rugby that’s enjoyable.”

Jack has more caps in the NZ second row than Colin Meads. Meads had a better way with words though.

Steve Borthwick [Eng]:  Borthwick was Martin Johnson’s choice of captain for the first two seasons of his managerial tenure. Despite many press grumbles, Johnno wasn’t for turning and stuck with Borthwick until Courtney Lawes came off the bench in England’s last match of the 2010 Six Nations. Lawes replaced Lewis Deacon and was chosen to go on tour to Australia.

Johnson chose to blood Lawes and Youngs with their first test starts on that trip, many miles away from the suffocating media attention endemic to English rugby. Since then Borthwick has been surplus to requirements. Johnson, who stood by his captain as he sought to bring consistency of selection to les Rosbifs, axed Borthwick ruthlessly. His international decline hasn’t been replicated in his club form and he captained (a Chris Jack-less) Saracens to their first Premiership title in 2011. That still wasn’t enough to get him on the plane ahead of Leicester mutant Lewis Deacon.

Mick O’Driscoll [Irl]: Mickodrick mightn’t seem like the most obvious absentee. However, the Cork man was Munster’s Player of the Year in 2010 and since his return from France has been in the form of career. A fine lineout player, O’Driscoll has also added some ball carrying skills as well as captaining Munster. In fact, the Mole believes that he has outplayed Bonpensiero O’Callaghan for the last two seasons but there’s been no shifting every coach’s favourite from the starting spot in either Munster or Ireland. If only Micko had a surname that began O’C rather than O’D.

Flip van der Merwe [SA]: His old man is Flippie van der Merwe, a bearded mountain who missed out on international cult status because his Springbok career coincided with South Africa’s isolation due to apartheid. What a victim.

Jason Eaton [NZ]: Eaton was plucked from obscurity by Graham Henry to tour with NZ in 2005 and made his test debut against Ireland where he effortlessly caught winger Anthony Horgan from behind. Understandably it marked the end of Horgan’s international career but there hasn’t been too much more from Eaton either. Named the International Rugby Players’ Association’s (IRPA) international newcomer of the year in 2006 (joining Richie McCaw, Brian Habana and Pierre Spies among others), Eaton then made a return to relative obscurity. He suffered a knee injury in 2007 and then grew some awesome facial hair. He looked like a taller Tom Hanks in Castaway and was selected like him as well. This season though, he looked to be back to his best and was prominent for the Hurricanes throughout the season.

15 Geordan Murphy: keen and very active which is probably better news for Leicester than Ireland at this stage

14/13/12 Johne Murphy/Darren Cave/Ian Keatley (replaced by Ian Whitten): not in RWC plans

11 Fergus McFadden: did everything well, rounded off with lovely pick up and dart over for try. Kidney has to bring him

10 Paddy Wallace: good to see him reinforce himself as a viable alternative to either O’Gara or Sexton, which is why he is going

9 Isaac Boss: was busy and accurate with his passing and coped well with sloppy stuff from his forwards. Was replaced by Conor Murray who had to roll his sleeves up, and did ok under pressure from Connacht’s Paul O’Donohoe

1 Tony Buckley: quiet when he needed to be a bully

2 Sean Cronin: ok, nothing more. Replaced by Damien Varley who is not in running

3 John Hayes: needs games to get fit enough to make any impact, and not a lot of  game time left. Replaced by Marcus Horan who did little wrong

4 Mick O’Driscoll: good restarts and carried a bit of ball, but it’s all too late

5 Leo Cullen: did ok, but looks nailed on for midweek captaincy. Replaced by Donnacha Ryan who is beginning to look like he knows he’s on the plane

6 Kevin McLaughlin – one bad handling errror but put himself about. Too late I suspect

8 Denis Leamy – scary moment in second half when he was having his ankle seen to by medics. Played ok and is secure

7  Niall Ronan – In theory he should be in the running because of David Wallace’s ongoing fitness issues. However Shane Jennings ahead there, even though he hasn’t laced a boot. Replaced by Chris Henry who is not in the picture

end

I hope that while Fergus McFadden at last is getting a start at 13, his first in any class of  jersey since 2010, it doesn’t coincide with the odds lengthening on his going to New Zealand next month. It is unthinkable that Declan Kidney could leave behind a goal kicker who since Christmas has played on both wings, and at inside centre for Leinster– and who represents the best understudy to Brian O’Driscoll – but two things conspired against him this week.

The first is the rapid progress of Gordon D’Arcy, playing catch-up since a knee op in June. And the second is the positive impression made by Felix Jones.

Kidney understandably is hot on players completing a seven week pre-season and then getting decent game time under their belts before boarding the plane for NZ. D’Arcy’s surgery in June clearly put him on an uphill climb here but now it seems he’s tipping away, and the expectation inside the camp is that he will make it. Of course it will be dramatic, as D’Arcy likes it. In which case McFadden is back battling for a cover spot.

 The second obstacle to McFadden is the way Felix Jones has impressed in Carton House. With Geordan Murphy heading to play for Leicester next week, it’s hard to see him making the cut when the squad is reduced on 22 August. Instead Jones will make his debut off the bench for Rob Kearney against the Scots on Saturday, and it’s a terrific opportunity for him.

So if D’Arcy’s rapid rehab continues, and Jones works his way further into the affections of Declan Kidney as a young full back with a very good counter attacking game, then McFadden is marginalised more.

In fact that would leave him in a straight shoot out with Luke Fitzgerald. Even when McFadden’s form was miles ahead of Fitzgerald with Leinster this season Joe Schmidt was running with the bigger name. And Kidney will do the same.

The way to avoid having to make this call is to install Keith Earls as the alternative to Kearney at 15, and bring both Fitzgerald and McFadden. Of course injuries over the course of this month may clear the water for Kidney as they have in the past, but at the minute that’s how it looks.

 The other player to join Jones in the Brightest Bolters category is Mike McCarthy. Kidney brought him into the 32 man squad for the Six Nations last season to see how he got on, but his performance in camp this time round has moved him up through the most congested traffic lane: second row/number six.

If you accept that Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan and Leo Cullen are three of the four second rowers, then McCarthy has – on training ground form – moved past Mick O’Driscoll and Kevin McLaughlin. Which puts him alongside Donnacha Ryan, who starts beside Cullen in Edinburgh.

McCarthy is a decent size, has very good skills, and is athletic. He also has a fairly low boiling point. It’s probably best then that Nathan Hines is not wearing the darker shade of blue this weekend. If the Connacht man can stand out for the right reasons in what is a makeshift pack against Scotland then he will weave his way further through the traffic. How McFadden and Jones fare on the same journey will be worth getting worked up about – even in August.

end

Amidst the darkening  gloom of recession and the impending bailout, the Irish rugby team are doing little to lighten the mood.

On Saturday Ireland face the might of the Allblacks and i’m afraid to say they are on a hiding to nothing.

If Ireland are to stand any chance Brian O'Driscoll must be at his majestic best

Declan Kidney waited until today to name his team for fear of  Graham Henry making plans for his players, but something tells me the New Zealand Coach will be sleeping like a baby, with thoughts of what to have for breakfast in the morning of more concern.

For Ireland to stand any chance of beating the Allblacks they must play out of their skins and hope their opponents have an off day. In my own opinion even if the visitors are at 70%  they will cruise through the game at the Aviva.

Selection is the one area that a coach can control on the pitch and Kidney has made some glaring errors in his calls.

Mick O’Driscoll has forever been a player on the periphery for both club and country, only stepping into the void when resources were limited. Now he appears first choice, which just shows how badly Ireland are missing the presence of Paul O’Connell.

If only there was a player who captains a major European side and performs consistently week in week out commanding the respect of those around him!

The decision to repeatedly overlook Bob Casey has now gone beyond the ridiculous. Not only is he part of the one of the best line-outs in Europe, but he is a collussus of a man who would help take the ball carrying burden off Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris.

Eoin Reddan has yet to prove his quality at International level

Against South Africa Eoin Reddan was the worst player on the pitch, yet he for some reason merits selection again. Reddan is a good club player, but the step up to international level appears a bridge too far for the Leinster man.

Quick ball is essential to defeat New Zealand so surely Peter Stringer would be the obvious choice, but I guess the Ireland Head coach sees it differently.

I could go on and discuss the failings of Rob Kearney and the selection on the bench of John Hayes and Dennis Leamy, but the experience would be futile.

Ireland are going to lose on Saturday, the only thing Kidney could have done was to make sure it was respectable. Now come 5.30 I’m not sure whether  I can bear to watch.

Harry Potter is also on television so perhaps it may be better to indulge in fantasy rather than face the harsh reality.

My Ireland XV to face New Zealand

15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Luke Fitzgerald 13 Tommy Bowe, 12 Brian O’Driscoll, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Donnacha O’Callaghan, 4 Bob Casey, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Dan Tuohy, 19, Sean O’Brien, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Keith Earls

Ireland are at home, have almost their entire first choice side playing and, on paper at least, have a good enough side to win for the second November test match in a row. With the South African’s still clinging to their beloved kicking game the world class back three of Fitzgerald, Bowe and Kearney can run the ball back with interest should a wayward punt come their way. The scrum back three remains solid as ever, despite the slight consternation amongst Irish supporters at Sean O’Brien’s omission, and Paul O’Connell’s replacement, Mick O’Driscoll, will not let anyone down – just ask a Munster supporter.

The worries come as ever in the front row where Buckley needs to prove that he has the skills to provide some much needed solidity at scrum time. We cannot remember a time over the last two years when the Irish scrum went anything but backwards and this remains one of the major worries leading into world cup year.

The other potentially weak links are at 9, 10 and 12. Reddan has rightly been picked over Stringer although O’Leary will be sorely missed. His half back partner, Jonny Sexton, despite having one of the names crucial for a great fly half, tends to lose his kicking game at the wrong moments a la Matt Giteau. He has proved he has the running game to succeed and once he harnesses that to his place kicking Ireland should have found themselves a formidable weapon. Outside him is D’Arcy at 12 who these days does not provide the carrying and off loading skills he once had. He needs to fire if Ireland are going to win in any way other than through penalties.

The other reason why South Africa should be perceived as slight underdogs is the bad run of injuries that Pieter De Villiers men are suffering. Problems in the pack but particularly in the backline, as far as selection goes, coupled with a poor 2010 mean that Ireland should be dissatisfied with anything other than a victory.

Prediction: Ireland 22-15 South Africa

Look out for: Tommy Bowe – surely one of the best wingers around today. Sexton’s running and passing although hold your breath if he’s got the place T out. South African’s are yet to name their side but Matfield and the experienced heads are likely to be key if they are to win. PDV’s post match press conference should anything controversial happen whatever happens.

Outscored by nine tries to four in New Plymouth, it was a bad night for the Irish who have failed to beat the New Zealanders in 23 Test matches.

Brian O’Driscoll

Reduced to 14 men when number eight Jamie Heaslip was sent off with just over 15 minutes gone, the visitors never stood a chance against a fired-up All Blacks outfit and matters just got worse when Ronan O’Gara was sin-binned for cynical play midway through the first period.

By half-time the hosts were 38-7 up after tries by Conrad Smith, Kieran Read, Ben Franks and two for Jimmy Cowan.

Dan Tuohy, who had come on for the injured Mick O’Driscoll, brought a moment of cheer for the Irish with a try just before the break but the good moments were few and far between.

The tries kept coming for both sides in the second spell with Smith, Sam Whitelock (two) and Neemia Tialata going over for the All Blacks, and Brian O’Driscoll , Tommy Bowe and Gordon D’Arcy touching down for consolation scores for the Irish.

Tom Court will make his first start for the Irish at loosehead, accompanied by Tony Buckley at tighthead in a front row built around Best’s experience.

Rory Best

Bob Casey’s last cap came nine years ago, also against Canada, but he starts in the second row with Mick O’Driscoll.

Denis Leamy will win his first cap at number eight and will be joined on the flank by debutants John Muldoon and openside Niall Ronan.

The backline contains four new caps, including Ian Keatley who will partner Ireland’s most-capped scrum-half Peter Stringer, while Munster supply the wingers in Barry Murphy, on the right, and debutant Ian Dowling on the left. Gavin Duffy will complete the back three.

Ulster duo Darren Cave and Ian Whitten are the other two players who will earn their first cap at the weekend.

Head coach Declan Kidney has retained the side that toppled France and Italy in the opening two rounds of the championship – victories that have planted Ireland at the top of the table.

Declan Kidney

Paddy Wallace, who required stitches to an eye wound sustained against the Azzurri, has once again held off the challenge of Gordon D’Arcy at inside centre.

The only change to the 22 comes on the bench where Mick O’Driscoll replaces Malcolm O’Kelly, who was omitted from the extended squad announced on Sunday.

Kidney said: “We went through the whole team selection. The team are training so well and we took that into account.

“The lads who came on as subs in the first two matches have put their hands up, as have the guys on Magners League duty at the weekend.

“Second row is probably one of the most sought-after positions in the set-up.

“Mick had been going well prior to getting the shoulder injury and he played very well in the Magners League on the weekend, so I felt he deserved his chance.

“I’m sure Malcolm will force his way back into the side.”

Prop John Hayes will equal the Irish record of 92 appearances held by O’Kelly, while captain Brian O’Driscoll will win his 91st cap.

Only Mick O’Driscoll is present from the side that thumped Italy 51-24 in the final RBS 6 Nations match, the Munster lock replacing injured provincial colleague Paul O’Connell.

Eddie O’Sullivan

Former rugby league star Brian Carney has been included in the 30-strong party after impressing since switching codes to join Munster in March.

Ulster prop Simon Best will lead the squad against the Pumas, who are in the same World Cup pool as Ireland.

Seven uncapped players feature in the touring party, with Peter Bracken, Tony Buckley, Shane Jennings, Robert Kearney, Barry Murphy, Tomas O’Leary and Carney yet to make their Test debuts.

O’Sullivan said: “This tour was always about looking at options with the World Cup in mind. It’s an opportunity for players to put their cases forward for France and, in doing so, allowed us to rest the majority of the Six Nations squad.”

Carney, who has played just three games for Munster since switching codes last month, has been named in an experimental 30-man squad missing Ireland’s entire first-choice XV.

Call up: Carney

Head coach Eddie O’Sullivan has decided to rest his established senior players for the two-Test series in May and June.

Only Mick O’Driscoll is present from the side that thumped Italy 51-24 in the final RBS 6 Nations match, the Munster lock replacing injured provincial colleague Paul O’Connell.

Ulster prop Simon Best will lead the squad against opponents Ireland will also meet in the pool stages of the World Cup in September.

Ireland squad for summer tour to Argentina:Forwards:N Best (Ulster), S Best (Ulster, captain), P Bracken (Wasps), T Buckley (Munster), L Cullen (Leicester), S Ferris (Ulster), J Flannery (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster), T Hogan (Leinster), B Jackman (Leinster), S Jennings (Leicester), M O’Driscoll (Munster), M O’Kelly (Leinster), A Quinlan (Munster), F Sheahan (Munster), B Young (Ulster).Backs:I Boss (Ulster), T Bowe (Munster), B Carney (Munster), G Duffy (Connacht), R Kearney (Leinster), K Lewis (Leinster), B Murphy (Munster), G Murphy (Leicester), T O’Leary (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps), J Staunton (Wasps), A Trimble (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster).