Though notionally a development team, such are the blasts from the past that the Irish A squad to play the Springboks next Wednesday in Thomond Park might more accurately be termed a redevelopment team. While Eric Elwood, Kevin Maggs and Jonathan Bell have 106 caps between them in a back division which is more experienced than its Test counterparts at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, the most eye-catching returns from the forgotten land are Matt Mostyn and Victor Costello.
Whatever about Costello's recall, which is liable to be a popular one given the campaign on his behalf and his good form, the selection of the Australian-born, Welsh-based Mostyn is sure to meet with an altogether more mixed reaction, given the campaign waged against him. If nothing else, it shows that Warren Gatland is his own man.
"We've watched him for Newport this season and we've watched tapes of him as well," said Gatland. "He's been playing well and this is a good pressure game for us to have a look at him and make a decision on him, and we want that latitude," added Gatland, to explain Mostyn's selection above, say, that of James Topping and Justin Bishop, who scored three tries in his two Test appearances in the Americas.
Adding that the management are aware of some players omitted from the A squad, Gatland said: "An A selection sometimes fills slightly different criteria, and therefore it's not always you're out-and-out second-string side, especially at this stage of the season. There's one or two players we want to ask questions about at the next level. Anthony Horgan falls into that category too. His form has been very good for Munster. So here's an opportunity to see if they're capable of playing at that next level."
Costello won the last of his 22 caps, and 17th in succession, in the first Test defeat to Australia (46-10) in Ballymore two summers ago. "Victor's form has been good," said Gatland, adding that backrow resources had been reduced by the unavailability, compared to last season, of Dion O'Cuinneagain.
The options at half-back were limited by injuries to Emmet Farrell and Paul Burke, and by Leinster playing an overseas player in the position. Also, Barry Everitt's recent prolific return from injury with London Irish came after the management's various sorties to watch the "ex-pats" this season, Jeremy Staunton has been elevated to this level alongside Elwood.
"We want to win these games over the next couple of weeks, but the Six Nations are the priority, as I'm sure all Irish rugby supporters would agree. The paramount thing is that we're working and developing towards the Six Nations," said the Irish coach.
The sheer logistics of bringing a 22-man A squad together, to assemble this Sunday, compelled the Irish management to announce its make-up yesterday, although they have left a couple of vacancies, at fullback and prop. The Springboks, meanwhile, whose party consists of 40 players and eight coaches, will arrive in Ireland in two groups. The first contingent will arrive in Limerick this weekend, with the second due in from Buenos Aires next Tuesday.
Ireland A (Squad, v South Africa, Wednesday, November 15th, at Thomond Park, 7.30): Backs - Tom Tierney (Garryowen), Brad Free (Ballymena), Jeremy Staunton (Garryowen), Eric Elwood (Galwegians), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Jonathan Bell (Dungannon), Mike Mullins (Young Munster), Anthony Horgan (Cork Constitution), Matt Mostyn (Newport), AN Other. Forwards - Marcus Horan (Shannon), Emmet Byrne (St Mary's College), AN Other, Peter Smyth (St Mary's College), Shane Byrne (Blackrock College), Bob Casey (Blackrock College), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College), Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), Alan Quinlan (Shannon), David Wallace (Garryowen), Victor Costello (St Mary's College), Tony McWhirter (Ballymena).
New Zealand Youths tour: Wed, Nov 15th v Ulster under21, Ravenhill (7.30); Sat, Nov 18th v Ireland under-21, Greystones (2.30); Wed, Nov 22nd v Leinster under-21s, Donnybrook (7.0); Sat, Nov 25th v Munster under-21s, Thomond Park (2.30).
The Munster under-21s make two changes to the side which beat the Exiles (46-10) in their last outing for this Saturday's under-21 Interprovincial Championship decider against Ulster in Cork, where the game has been switched from Musgrave Park to Temple Hill.
Flanker Conor Hartigan has been ruled out after suffering concussion while on duty with the Irish under-21s in France last week, and is replaced by John O'Connor of Shannon. Niall McNamara, who scored two tries against the Exiles after coming on as a replacement, retains in his place.
Munster Under-21: R Desmond (UL Bohemians); J Lynch (Shannon), C O'Sullivan (UCC), M Lawlor (Shannon, capt), N McNamara (Shannon); D Delaney (Shannon), P McCarthy (Dolphin); S O'Neill (UL Bohemians), C Tucker (Shannon), R Flanagan (Bruff), P Griffin (Garryowen), T Hayes (Shannon), P Malone (Bruff), A Hickey (Dolphin), J O'Connor (Shannon). Replacements (from): R McGrath (Cork Con), J Colbert (Midleton), D O'Connell (Garryowen), J O'Sullivan (Garryowen), H Hegarty (Cork Con), P Keogh (Bruff), E Reddan (Old Crescent), J Davis (Shannon), D O'Riordan (Midleton), K Barry (Midleton).
The Clontarf-Wanderers Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final has been brought forward from Sunday to tomorrow night at Castle Avenue (7.30).
