ONE of the tasks facing Ireland manager Pat Whelan and his fellow selectors after they arrive in the Algarve next Sunday is to select the team to meet Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week. The entire Ireland management team will be travelling to Portugal and so, too, will the A team manager Ray Coughlan and coach Dave Haslett.
The A team will, of course, have four matches this season with France added to the home countries' itinerary. It is 20 years since Ireland and France last met at this level, then designated B. In those days Ireland played just the one match in this sphere and full caps were disbarred from playing in the B matches. So this is the first season that Ireland will play all four International Championship opponents. The under 21 will follow a similar course as Ireland will also meet France at this level for the first time.
Right now, however, Whelan and his selectors have Italy very much on their minds in a match that the manager sees as a crucial part of the preparation for the championship. "The game is of the utmost importance to us and it is one we need to win," said Whelan. "We have already played two matches this season and lost both and we do not want to go into the championship, against a background of three defeats.
England and Scotland have defeated the Italians this season England very easily but that was a depleted Italian side, while Scotland had infinitely greater difficulty in winning last Saturday week. So the Italians could give Ireland a real test. Nor will it be forgotten that on the last occasion Ireland met Italy, in Treviso in May 1995, the Italians won the match comprehensively prior to the World Cup in South Africa.
I have no doubt that the selectors have made up their minds already about most areas of the team, but still have to decide on a few positions. That will be done on Monday after they arrive in the Algarve, having flown from London on Sunday morning. The team will be announced on Monday evening. It is obviously in the best interests of team preparation that the side is known and practice together during their stay in Portugal. The hope will be, too, that the Ireland squad members who will be playing in the English League on Saturday will all come through without injury.
I would not anticipate too many changes from the team that played Australia, but there will be some. There must be an alteration at full back, as Jim Staples is ruled out, and Dominic Crotty, who moved from wing to full back in the early stages of the match against Australia will, I hope, be chosen in the number IS jersey. Simon Mason, despite his place kicking ability, has too many defensive frailties for rugby at international level.
Conor O'Shea has been recalled to the squad after his two tries against South Africa in the A match but he played on that occasion on the wing. He may well be a contender for a wing berth, so will Niall Woods, while James Topping will surely be on the right wing.
THE Irish three quarters seldom threatened as an attacking unit against Australia and the selectors will look at the centre berths very carefully. They could well move Jonathan Bell to the wing, where he played his early internationals. He has singularly failed to produce over the last 12 months after looking so promising at the initial stages of his international career. There is a strong case for omitting Bell from the team, I expect to see Mark McCall retained in the centre and his partner could well be Maurice Field, with Kurt McQuilkin another option. McCall will be fit after a recent hand injury.
The selection at outside half could depend on the type of game Ireland will play. The limitations in the attacking capacity of the three quarter line must surely be a factor in who plays in the pivotal position. Paul Burke played well in the first half against Australia but his dropping out, for one thing, was less than accomplished. He has the man he replaced, David Humphreys, as a challenger, though Humphreys, who has just recovered from influenza, has not played as well this term as he did last season.
There is no doubt at all that Eric Elwood must come strongly into consideration. He is enjoying a very good season and playing as well as he did when he came on the scene with such an impact in 1993. Elwood is a fine kicker in every respect and he could very well represent the best option at outside half. He certainly did his case more than a, little good with his performance in the Ireland A side and for Connacht against Australia.
The scrum half berth lies between Niall Hogan, who was due to lead Ireland against Australia but forced to withdraw because of an ankle injury, and the man who replaced him in that match, Stephen McIvor. McIvor played well and the captaincy will not be an issue in Hogan's favour as Keith Wood undertook that task against Australia and could well now make that particular job his own even if Hogan regains his place ahead of McIvor and that could be a very close call. The choice at scrum half will be among the most interesting aspects of the team selection.
I do not anticipate any change in the front row and the second row is an area that rests between Gabriel Fulcher, Jeremy Davidson and Paddy Johns. Fulcher and Davidson are the men in possession but I, for one, will have no quibble if Johns is recalled and if he is, Fulcher is the mane who will lose out. He is not currently in the London Irish first team.
David Corkery looks certain to be in the back row and that leaves the number eight and open side flank berths as discussion points. Anthony Foley and Denis McBride filled those positions against Australia and may do so again. Eddie Halvey and Victor Costello are ruled out on the grounds of fitness. Ben Cronin represents an alternative to Foley but I will be surprised if he replaces the Shannon man while the selectors may see this match as a good opportunity to give Eric Miller a run on the open side.
In conclusion as a time when people are still exercising their minds about buying appropriate Christmas presents, could I recommend two books recently published. Ralph O'Gorman has rendered the game in Connacht an outstanding service with his book Rugby in Connacht. In this book he traces the evolution of the game in the province and the problem.5 it faced. He includes an excellent statistical section.
There is no keener student or more enthusiastic supporter of the game at schools level than Declan Downs, who has produced an update of his excellent history of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup, first produced in 1286. It again makes captivating read in and will bring back many memories for a host of those who played in the competition.
