Shane Horgan, of late considered a non-runner for the Irish World Cup squad, suddenly re-entered the fray yesterday when the Irish A and under-21 centre was named in the Leinster side to face Argentina next Tuesday at Donnybrook (6.30).
Having been sidelined with a fractured wrist since the FIRA Under-21 World Cup in Argentina last month, Horgan had been ruled out of World Cup contention by the Irish management as recently as 48 hours ago.
However, in confirming that Horgan had recovered, the Leinster manager Ken Ging matter-of-factly maintained: "the extent of the injury was exaggerated a little; it was never as bad as it was made out to be. Anyway, he's been training today and looks fine, and will definitely play on Tuesday."
Nonetheless, Donal Lenihan was transparently surprised on hearing the news. "We had ruled Jeremy Staunton out and our view through the Leinster medical people was that Shane wouldn't be back in time either. Still, I'm glad for him that he's playing."
Despite being without Angus McKeen, Brian O'Driscoll, Malcolm O'Kelly, Trevor Brennan and Girvan Dempsey (all on Irish duty in Galway), Leinster still name a strong enough outfit containing eight internationals. The game affords Mike Ruddock the chance to look at Emmet Farrell at full back, former All Blacks' scrum-half Stu Forster, Gary Halpin, Bob Casey, Brian Cusack and Declan O'Brien, while Rob Henderson and Kieron Dawson will be guesting. The latter's London Irish team-mate Justin Bishop resumed training with the Irish squad at Glenina yesterday and may yet, after all, play a substitute's role in the warm-up game against Connacht tomorrow. Supplemented by Alan Quinlan and David Wallace, Connacht may also welcome back Jimmy Duffy for his first start of the season, pending medical clearance, while Nigel Carolan comes in for Matt Mostyn on the wing and John Maher replaces the injured Jimmy Screen in the frontrow. Meanwhile, the IRFU remain positive that the troubled Ravenhill playing pitch will be playable in time for the scheduled World Cup Pool E game between Australia and Romania on Sunday, October 3rd.
"Expert opinion is that the playing surface will be in order for the World Cup game," according to a statement yesterday which confirmed that the Guinness Inteprovincial encounter between Ulster and Munster had been moved to the Queen's University Playing Fields, and from Friday September 3rd to Saturday September 4th (kick-off 2.30).
Similarly, the Ulster XV v Ireland XV game in aid of the IRFU's Omagh Fund has also been switched to the Queen's University Playing Fields, and from Friday September 17th to Sunday September 19th (kick-off 2.30).
Revised Munster club fixture list for this weekend: Saturday - Cork Charity Cup semi-final - Midleton v Sunday's Well, Midleton (3.00); Limerick Charity Cup semi-final - Young Munster v Bohemians, Clifford Park (3.00); Senior Friendly - Thomond v Munster Junior XV, Rathuard (3.00). Sunday - Cork Charity Cup semi-final - Cobh Pirates v Cork Constitution, Cobh (1.30).
CONNACHT: S Allnutt; P Duignan, M Deane, M Murphy, N Carolan; E Elwood (capt), C McGuinness; J Maher, S McDonald, M Cahill, J Duffy or C Rigney, A Quinlan, B Gavin, D Wallace. Replacements - S McIvor, B Glynn, G Brady, K Flanagan, J McVeigh, E Brennan, C Rigney or B Jackman.
