Ireland's injury woes, and especially at tight-head prop, continue to unhinge their World Cup preparations. John Hayes, who has only played half a game for Munster since the Ireland-England Grand Slam decider at the end of March due to a groin injury, has been forced to withdraw from Saturday's match against Italy at Thomond Park because of a torn calf.
Sustained at the end of Tuesday's scrummaging session, Hayes's injury was yesterday diagnosed as "a small tear on his calf", said Irish manager Brian O'Brien. "We're hoping it's not a major tear and we would be hopeful he'll be passed fit next week."
As a result, the reluctant convert Reggie Corrigan has been rerouted from Leinster's tour to England and on Saturday will wear an unfamiliar number three jersey for the fourth time in Ireland's last five internationals.
Hayes will be assessed again next Monday prior to the final World Cup warm-up Test against Scotland in Murrayfield on Saturday week, but given the injury is a slight tear, as distinct from a strain, the odds must be against him making that game.
Not that this would unduly jeopardise Hayes's World Cup hopes, for although the squad will be announced on September 7th, Ireland's first game in Australia is not until October 11th against Romania, and with Namibia to follow a week later before the pivotal meeting with the strong-scrummaging Argentinians in Adelaide on October 25th, the fixtures have fallen favourably.
Even so, O'Brien admitted Hayes's setback is "a nuisance", all the more so as Ireland's other recognised frontline tighthead, Emmet Byrne, is himself only inching his way back to match fitness on Leinster's current tour.
Ironically, Hayes had seemingly been indestructible up until the summer, having been rested only once since making his debut at home to Scotland in the 2000 Six Nations. Against England he was making his 29th successive appearance for Ireland, a sequence only Anthony Foley matched in that four-year period.
"I'm sure he's like a cut cat over it," admitted O'Brien.
These unwanted tight-head problems could conceivably have a ripple effect, and perhaps push the Irish management into adopting Clive Woodward's apparent thinking in opting for five props and a 17-13 split between forwards and backs, rather than 16-14.
Having been obliged to play his frontline Irish players in last Friday's 23-15 win over Gloucester, Leinster coach Gary Ella is using the province's two-match pre-season tour to England to help shape his team for the opening two months of the Celtic League campaign. Accordingly, he is blooding a new-look team for this evening's game in Coventry.
New signing from Wasps, Darren Molloy, will make his first start for Leinster, as will a host of upgraded younger players, such as the Clontarf pair Daragh O'Shea and James Downey, the 21-year-old ex-Meath minor footballer Simon Crawford, and backrowers Rob Connolly and James Donovan, while James Norton makes a prodigal return after his season with Connacht.
It is anticipated the other travelling members of the squad not selected in today's 22, John Lyne, Gavin Hickie, Niall Treston, Mal O'Kelly, Des Dillon, Aidan McCullen, Keith Gleeson, Brian O'Riordan, Dave Quinlan and Gordon D'Arcy, will play in the return fixture with Gloucester on Saturday.
Tickets for Leinster's Celtic League match (all-ticket) against Munster on September 5th are on sale in Spar, Donnybrook, and Ticketlord: 1890 339333.
Former Munster and Irish stalwarts Mick Galwey and Peter Clohessy will line out for the Cill Dara President's (Joe Flanagan) XV against AIL Division One side Co Carlow (3.30) for the opening of the Kildare club's new €1.7million grounds, clubhouse and fitness centre on Sunday.
A number of terrace tickets for the Ireland-Italy game will be on sale at the Thomond Park turnstiles from 1 p.m. on Saturday.
LEINSTER LIONS: J Norton; D O'Shea, G Brown, J Downey, J McWeeney; C Warner (Capt), D Hegarty; D Molloy, D Blaney, P Coyle, S Crawford, A Kearney, R Connolly, N Ronan, J Donovan. Replacements: E Byrne, B Blaney, B Gissing, S Jennings, C Willis, M Leek, B Burke, K Lewis.
CILL DARA'S PRESIDENT XV: J Lacey (Shannon); D O'Shea (Clontarf), S Manuel (Kilkenny), A Thompson (Shannon), R O'Donnell (Newbridge); P Behan (Cill Dara), N Conneely (Cill Dara); E Bohan (Lansdowne), G Moore (Cill Dara), P Clohessy, M Galwey (capt), D O'Halloran (Cill Dara), C Moore (Cill Dara), L Toland (Lansdowne), E Fitzpatrick (Cill Dara).
