On a purely rugby level, it's hard not to get excited about the prospect of a new "dream" second-row partnership between Paul O'Connell and Malcolm O'Kelly one day taking the field for Ireland. But on more of a sporting level, it's also something of a relief to think that Mick Galwey won't be jettisoned, a move which would have ended his international career on that sour note in Twickenham. It would have been an awful way for a legend's career to end. "Gaillimh" deserves a better finale than that. Which

When it was put to him yesterday that O'Connell's enforced withdrawal saved the Irish management from making a difficult decision in selecting three from four locks, Brian O'Brien commented: "We're not afraid of making the tough decisions." He also pointed out the wisdom in deferring any decision until after last weekend's matches: O'Connell's sudden need for dental surgery justifies the policy to retain a squad of 25 until yesterday.

In any event, it would now seem even more sensible to retain Galwey in the starting line-up, and as captain, for there wouldn't seem to be much point in springing him from the bench as an "impact" replacement. Gary Longwell has proved more than adept in that context, and to a small degree may even be paying a price for it.

With one change forced on the management due to the unavailability of Geordan Murphy, that decision looks already to have been made with Tyrone Howe returning to the A squad, thereby leaving Shane Horgan primed to regain the number 14 jersey.

The decision as to who will replace the injured Rob Henderson on the bench also looks to have been made, given Mike Mullins has been sent back to the A squad whereas John Kelly has stayed in Greystones, thereby inching him closer to a first cap at some juncture on Saturday.

Fair play to Kelly, he's worked hard for it, although Mullins' star seems to have waned in the selectors' eyes this season. Bearing in mind his dynamic ball carrying over the first 10 or 20 yards and his game-breaking qualities, Mullins is a potential impact player off the bench.

However, his possible versatility as a full back as well as a centre has possibly been damaged by his performance as a replacement for the injured Dominic Crotty in the Celtic League final last December. Tellingly too, when asked about this decision, O'Brien commented: "We also take into account form where possible," the clear inference being that the management feel the hard-working, versatile Kelly is in better nick than Mullins.

Nevertheless, with Murphy sidelined, this would suggest that David Humphreys will act as full back cover for Girvan Dempsey, a tough call on him and a nervy one for the rest of us when you recall Ben Kay bearing down on him.

The old Humphreys-Ronan O'Gara outhalf chestnut has also been revived since Twickenham, which seems a tad harsh on the Ulster captain given even Jonny Wilkinson probably wouldn't have made much of an impact with that scant supply of Irish ball in the first half.

A rejuvenated and more positive looking O'Gara is undoubtedly now pushing Humphreys harder, but the latter deserves at least another chance, albeit with the probable reminder from Eddie O'Sullivan and Mike Ford to make more of an impact defensively after the English camp confirmed the impression of last Saturday week that they had targeted the outhalf.

EFFECTIVELY it would seem that the selection of a hooker and the composition of the backrow were the toughest decisions facing O'Sullivan and the management last night. The coach and the rest of the Irish camp have been strongly defending the much maligned Frankie Sheahan in the fall-out from Twickenham, with O'Kelly admitting the Irish lineout system was at fault, primarily due to the slowness with which they grouped for the throw-in, thereby enabling England ample time to get into a defensive position.

It's also puzzling as to why so little of Sheahan's throws were called on O'Kelly, and so many were directed toward Galwey. It could be that Simon Easterby's soft hands and proven lineout ability will also see him promoted at the expense of Eric Miller, who arguably didn't have enough rugby under his belt in the weeks before the English game. Then again, he'd probably be better for the run-out against England, so it makes more sense to pick him now.

Indeed, it's quite possible that the same Irish pack could produce a far better performance out of touch if retained en bloc, simply by improving the lineout system. Certainly there's an argument for retaining Sheahan, as dropping him to the bench probably wouldn't leave him in the best frame of mind as an understudy to Shane Byrne were he required to replace him at some point next Saturday. Thus, although Shane Byrne's first championship start in place of Sheahan is widely expected, neither that nor the call at number six are cut-and-dried issues.

There's no doubt that the result in Twickenham has added to the pressure on Ireland to perform, even if it might well produce a positive reaction. It has also taken some of the gloss off Saturday's game, with the championship decider clearly taking place in Stade de France. Longer-term, the Twickenham setback has questioned the real worth of this Irish team. That's the excellence of the England team. Given any chink they will expose the frailties of any side - the mobility of the tight five, the presence of a true openside, a defensive system. With their battery of video analysts, they did their homework on Ireland.

It is because of the English international set-up which Clive Woodward has fostered, and which the English RFU have funded to levels unequalled by even the All Blacks or the Wallabies, rather than because of the English club system, that they are now the true benchmark of European rugby. Virtually all of their players perform way above their club standards and the seemingly inevitable reward of an overdue Grand Slam is probably only one win away.