Ronan is ready for the Aussies
Wednesday June 23 2010
CONGRATULATORY texts were winging their way by the dozen from Drogheda to Brisbane yesterday ( Tuesday) after local lad Niall Ronan was picked to play for Ireland against Australia. Saturday's Test will be the biggest match in the 27-yearold Piltown native's rugby career, and his inclusion in the starting XV has delighted everyone associated with his former club Boyne.
Club PRO Seamie Briscoe said: 'We are over the moon for Niall and for the family – his dad Finbar and mum Teresa.
'He had a great game against New Zealand Maori last Friday and when George Hook comes out and says he can't understand why Niall isn't more involved with the Ireland set-up, it shows how highly he's rated,' he said.
Ronan's previous four caps were against Canada, the USA, Barbarians and New Zealand Maori, but this will be his first 'full-blown' international against one of the top rugby nations – and it can be argued that he's there on merit.
David Wallace, normally a shoe-in for the number 7 jersey which is Ronan's favoured position, has left the touring squad on paternity leave, but Ronan has been selected on the opposite side of the scrum at '6'.
Now he has an opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the squad for the traditional Autumn Internationals and next year's Six Nations Championship.
Sadly, there is no place in the match-day 22 for another former Boyne player, Shane Horgan, who did feature against the Maoris.
- Marcus CAVAROLI
