RUGBY/News Round-up: Back to business as usual after one of the finest afternoons of his coaching career, Eddie O'Sullivan has added eight players to the Ireland squad in advance of naming the starting line-up and replacements at lunchtime today for next Saturday's second autumnal international against his former charges, the USA Eagles. Gerry Thornley reports.
Simon Best, Leo Cullen, Denis Leamy, Aidan McCullen, Tommy Bowe, Gavin Duffy, Anthony Horgan and Shaun Payne all linked up with the 22 players who were on duty against the Springboks last Saturday, which points to O'Sullivan making an unusually high number of changes to the team before the meeting with Argentina on Saturday week.
In virtually all the above cases this is a fair reward for some excellent form this season, although Duffy - recently dropped at club level - has possibly suffered a little from the run of defeats at Harlequins this season.
Ditto Best, whose fortuitous selection (based on form this season) is as much a commentary on the lack of prop alternatives, given the domestic provincial market is populated by imports such as Gordon McIlwham, Rod Moore, Stephen Knoop and Ricky Nebbett.
Even so, despite a recent injury which ruled him out of a couple of games before returning for Leinster on Sunday, Emmett Byrne does seem a little unlucky to miss out.
It seems probable that, at the very least, O'Sullivan will play all seven replacements who started on the bench against the Springboks last Saturday and quite possibly give debuts to Leamy and Bowe and, possibly, a home debut for McCullen.
In addition to Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Gleeson and Victor Costello, a number of what could be termed fringe players have been ruled out of consideration through injury - Kieron Dawson, John Kelly, Neil Best, Neil McMillan, John O'Sullivan, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace and Roger Wilson. The toll is particularly high in the back row, where eight players have been sidelined.
Ulster have also been hit in that department with the news their talismanic captain Andy Ward suffered a knee injury in their win over the Borders last Friday night and will be out of action for four to six weeks, effectively ruling him out of their back-to-back European Cup meetings with Stade Francais next month.
Meanwhile, South Africa coach Jake White believes referees are giving his Tri-Nations champions a raw deal because of the Springboks' notorious reputation. South Africa have cleaned up their act since White replaced Rudi Straeuli following last year's World Cup disappointment and results have improved.
The bloody encounter against England at Twickenham in 2002 when the Springboks earned widespread condemnation for a shamefully violent display was the nadir of a colourful track record.
According to White such indiscretions are proving a hindrance to the current South Africa team who he felt were on the wrong side of Paul Honiss' whistle during Saturday's 17-12 defeat by Ireland.
"Sometimes I get the feeling we're paying for the sins of our past," said White ahead of the crunch showdown with England in five days' time.
"For five minutes of the game (against Ireland) we were camped on their try-line and they were slowing the ball down and standing offside. Not once were they told that the next player to infringe would be penalised.
"However, every time they got into our 22 and we did exactly the same thing as them, it resulted in a lecture from the referee."
Flanker Schalk Burger - one of the nominees for the International Rugby Board's player of the year award - was sent to the sin-bin against Ireland and White believes the back row star has become a target for referees.
"I have had time to look at the Schalk Burger yellow card and I'm starting to think that someone is putting the nail into him. He's not allowed to do things that other players are getting away with because someone has said he has a huge impact on the game," he said.
"His work-rate is so high that he's getting seen more often. The guy is a little bit confused because when you show him the video footage and he asks what is he doing wrong, what do you tell him because he's not actually doing anything wrong?"
Meanwhile, England have recalled flanker Joe Worsley to face South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.
Worsley missed the world champions' 70-0 drubbing of Canada last weekend because of a dead leg and he returns to the back row at blindside with Lewis Moody moving to openside and Andy Hazell dropping to the bench.
His inclusion is the only change from Saturday's starting XV but Harry Ellis returns from an Achilles injury as replacement scrumhalf.
"I think it's right to keep faith with a largely unchanged side this week," said England coach Andy Robinson. "We had a solid win over Canada and now we expect South Africa to offer very tough opposition. They will make them all the more determined to win this match."
The Dublin-based Connacht Rugby Supporters Club will be hosting a "meet the players" evening on Friday at 7.30 p.m. in the Bankers Club, 93 St Stephen's Green. All Connacht Rugby fans are welcome and everyone who attends will be in the draw for a signed Connacht jersey, while the Supporter's Club activities for the season's home and away will be outlined.
ENGLAND: Jason Robinson (captain); Mark Cueto, Henry Paul, Mike Tindall, Josh Lewsey; Charlie Hodgson, Andy Gomarsall; Graham Rowntree, Steve Thompson, Julian White, Danny Grewcock, Steve Borthwick, Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody, Martin Corry. Replacements: Andy Titterrell, Andrew Sheridan, Ben Kay, Andy Hazell, Harry Ellis, Will Greenwood, Ben Cohen.
