Keith Wood reckons Martin Moore should get the nod ahead over Joe Schmidt favourite Mike Ross for Ireland's Six Nations opener against Italy this weekend.
The former Ireland hooker also told Off The Ball that “experience will be key” in a Roman “dogfight” as he joined The Irish Times’ Gerry Thornley for Wednesday Night Rugby this evening.
“You start Sean O’Brien, for me, without a shadow of a doubt,” said Wood, who added of the choice between Moore and Ross at tight-head: "To Mike Ross it becomes more difficult.
"Fans often miss the Italian game for forwards. I remember beating Italy by 60 points [but] it was still a horrible game for a front-five forward. Everything was aggressive. It’s an incredibly taxing game to play.
"I’d be going for Marty Moore."
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As to whether that spells the end of veteran Ross’ international career, Woods added: "I don’t think that if he isn’t picked that he’ll fall off a cliff." Thornley concurred: “I think Ross actually deserves another opportunity.”
Wood was also concerned by having so many players coming back from injury at a similar time, saying, “I don’t know that that’s necessarily good for the team.”
Joe Schmidt might be leaning towards picking Ian Keatley over Ian Madigan at 10, Thornley suspects. “I think either or both of them will do a very good job,” said Wood, who is also mightily relieved Conor Murray is back from injury.
“I can’t say that there is a particular Irish style at the moment,” added the 2001 world player of the year of the bigger picture for the Schmidt era. “It’s very hard to call the game style that he might go out for because of our doubts over the selection.
"Irrespective of anything we will see a very high level of aggression. I don’t think it’ll be particularly flash. Joe Schmidt’s way has been slightly risk-averse.”
“I think that there’ll be an awful lot of kicking ... I think it’s going to be unbelievably tight.”
Both men were asked who their tip for the tournament is. Answers?
Keith Wood: Ireland.
Gerry Thornley: Wales.
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