Ireland announcement delayed

Kidney: Delay

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Ireland coach Declan Kidney has delayed the announcement of his team to face Argentina this weekend - a match that has assumed a vital importance given the ranking points available.

Kidney has named an extended 28-man squad and will now announce his starting XV on Thursday as injuries, disciplinary issues and the current state of the world rankings - which determine seedings for the 2011 World Cup - all play their part.

Forwards Paul O'Connell and Rory Best have been included for the Croke Park clash despite both players suffering dead legs in Ireland's 22-3 defeat by New Zealand last weekend.

Alan Quinlan also features in the 28, despite being cited for stamping against the All Blacks. His disciplinary hearing will take place in Dublin on Wednesday evening.

"Paul and Rory are doing okay as they continue rehab on their dead legs. They took a limited part in training today," Kidney said.

"Alan is involved in a disciplinary hearing, so we are just trying to give as much time possible for these matters to be cleared up before we confirm the team.

"All three of them have been named in the squad, and the fact that we decided on 28 members shows how competitive the battle for places is heading into this game.

"It also allows us to cover several combinations if anybody is ruled out of the game.

"While we would normally name our team today, the circumstances and importance of the game meant we needed to give ourselves that extra couple of days to consider all the options."

New dimension

Saturday's match has taken on a whole new dimension following the publication of the latest world rankings by the International Rugby Board.

Ireland must beat the Pumas if they are to retain eighth place in the standings.

Scotland - who are expected to beat Canada this weekend - are ninth, with both teams having one influential match remaining.

With the 2011 World Cup seedings to be announced on December 1, Ireland want to avoid the type of group that contributed to their early elimination last autumn.

Should they drop to ninth, they will be drawn in a pool featuring two top-tier nations - possibly hosts New Zealand and France or England.

Meanwhile, Argentina are trying to hold on to fourth place at the expense of England.

They have beaten Ireland in each of their last three meetings, including the 30-15 World Cup triumph in Paris last September that halted the latter's dismal campaign.

"Nobody is doubting the challenge that faces us this Saturday against another team that is above us in the IRB rankings," Kidney added.

"The fact that both teams have something to play for in terms of those world rankings gives this game even more of a competitive edge.

"Argentina are a team that work and play extremely hard for each other, so they'll no doubt give their best performance of the autumn against us."

Ireland's extended squad for match against Argentina at Croke Park on Saturday, November 22, 2.45pm:

Forwards: R Best (Ulster), T Buckley (Munster), B Casey (London Irish), T Court (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster), M Horan (Munster), B Jackman (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), A Quinlan (Munster), D Wallace (Munster).

Backs: T Bowe (Ospreys), G Dempsey (Leinster), K Earls (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), R Kearney (Leinster), G Murphy (Leicester), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), R O'Gara (Munster), T O'Leary (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps), P Wallace (Ulster).