RUGBY/Ireland tour to New Zealand: It's a curious state of affairs indeed when the exploits of the Irish football team supercede those of a touring Irish rugby squad in New Zealand of all countries. Not that such a scenario is likely to last much longer, and with the All Blacks flexing their muscles against a hapless-looking Italy tomorrow in their seasonal opener in Hamilton, it is imperative that Ireland set a good benchmark in their opening night in Timaru.
Facing them will be a New Zealand Division XV drawn from all over the second and third divisions of their National Provincial Championship. It's pretty clear that these hungry young tyros, bursting with pride at wearing all black and eager to impress prospective Division One or even Super 12 franchises, will be no pussycats.
Judging by the video evidence of the locals' 35-all draw with Italy last weekend, Ireland are bracing themselves for the kind of challenge you'd expect. Liberally sprinkled with Polynesian and Maori bloodlines, the Divisional outfit will be full of eager, straight-running, big-hitting types liable to expose any physical or mental chinks.
Given Timaru's population of 28,000 or so, the 12,000 capacity Alpine Energy Stadium may be half-full at best bearing in mind the All Blacks are live on TV later tomorrow night and there are no local players in the team.
The All Blacks' coach John Mitchell is resting a sizeable chunk of Canterbury's all-conquering Super 12 outfit in readiness for Ireland, who are seen as prime preparation for the initial Tri-Nations grudge match against Australia, so for their own sake Ireland need to make an impression.
Ireland had yet to finalise their replacements yesterday and their starting line-up highlights the delicate balance Eddie O'Sullivan has had to find between resting some overworked players - notably the Munster contingent, save for Anthony Foley - while giving some much needed match practice to others such as Foley and David Humphreys. The Ulster outhalf hasn't played since the defeat by France two months ago, since when an ankle injury has even curtailed his work on the training ground.
"We have a number of players who have not had much rugby and they are anxious to get a game," said O'Sullivan. "Others are resting as we try some combinations."
Accordingly there are also outings for Mel Deane, the one uncapped player in the starting line-up and a real contender for the first test in Dunedin on Saturday week, as well as Justin Bishop, Tyrone Howe and Guy Easterby.
After successfully captaining Leinster and Ireland A this season, Reggie Corrigan returns from the wilderness for his first outing with an Irish touring or Test team since the fateful World Cup defeat by Argentina in Lens in October 1999 in what is a big opportunity for him to reclaim the loose-head slot post-Peter Clohessy.
The one member of the 26-man travelling squad not considered was Malcolm O'Kelly, whose training has been confined to non-contact work.
O'Sullivan says this tour represents a twofold opportunity to learn more about his players and expand Ireland's pool of test talent in light of the recent spate of injuries. "There are a few players who didn't expect to be on the tour but with 14 Tests next season we will need to have some depth in the squad and this tour is a great chance for that."
The Irish management have had a chance to run the rule over their opening tour opponents, albeit against a weakened Italian team now coached by John Kirwan which contained only five of the side beaten by Ireland last March.
The Divisional side, coached by an old friend of Irish rugby in the grizzled Noel McQuilkin, shows only three changes from the team which outscored the Italians by five tries to four and are expected to improve from last weekend, which followed an earlier warm-up defeat by a Wasps Selection drawn largely from Bay of Plenty. It features the Young Munster number eight Mutu Ngarimu and one player with Super 12 experience, hooker Paul Mitchell, who is a brother of the All Blacks coach and son-in-law to Colin Meades.
"We expect thunder and fire from these Divisional players on Saturday," admits O'Sullivan. "We saw their game against Italy. They went well and perhaps could have won it." Nevertheless, while a tough work-out is expected, Ireland ought to have sufficient strength up front as well as enough savvy and finishing power to avoid any undue embarrassment.
Including a week together in Greystones, they should be well prepared and with Keith Wood keen to lead from the front and exhorting the troops to make some history on this tour, should have the hunger for it as well despite Munster's latest end-of-season European hangover.
After protracted security delays in Los Angeles meant a 38-hour trek from the Radisson Hotel to their base in Timaru on Monday, they've run into an unwelcoming cold snap. Training has been conducted in clear sunshine this week though temperatures have dipped to below freezing overnight and with darkness descending at tea-time, it will be decidedly chilly come kick-off. (6.05 am Irish time).
NEW ZEALAND DIVISIONAL XV: T Manawatu; M Teppman, S Leung-Wai, M Harvey, P Fifita; M Flutey, L Peina (capt); C Newland, P Mitchell, P Bielski, K Leawere, M Porter, D Quate, M Ngarimu, A Griffith.
IRELAND XV: G Dempsey; J Bishop, B O'Driscoll, M Deane, T Howe; D Humphreys, G Easterby; R Corrigan, K Wood (capt), J Hayes, G Longwell, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, A Foley, K Gleeson.
