Scotland, hit by injuries, have named a 25-man squad for the Six Nations match against Ireland in Edinburgh on September 22nd. Coach Ian McGeechan has called up full back Glenn Metcalfe following his recovery from a heel injury and has introduced one new cap in Glasgow's Roland Reid.
Reid, a product of the Scottish Rugby Union youth policy, is, due to his size and pace, already being compared to New Zealand left-wing Jonah Lomu. Selected a day before his 23rd birthday, the 6 ft 4 ins former flanker, weighing in at under 18 stone, can cover 100 metres in 11.2 seconds.
"Bringing him into the squad is part of his development but right now we're delighted with the first part of it," said the Scotland coach at Murrayfield yesterday. McGeechan, however, cautioned he would be unlikely to use untested players against Ireland.
Scotland's injuries extend to backs Cameron Murray, Jon Steel, Martin Leslie and Duncan Hodge with concern surrounding the fact that nine from the squad are also involved in competitive matches over the weekend.
Fit-again Gregor Townsend has been guaranteed the Scotland number 10 jersey by McGeechan for his Six Nations comeback while the quartet of Lions forwards, Scott Murray, Gordon Bulloch, Simon Taylor and Tom Smith, are all included with former skipper Andy Nicol.
Nicol incongruously sat on the Lions bench as emergency half-back cover for the third Test in Sydney after he was drafted in while holidaying as a tour guide.
Wins for Ireland against Scotland and Wales will set up a terrific finish against England at Lansdowne Road on October 20th.
Yesterday the IRFU dismissed reports that the match might be relocated to Paris because of the escalation of the foot-and-mouth problem in England.
"As it stands, the game is going ahead in Lansdowne Road," said a spokesman.
At provincial level Leinster, in deference to Ireland's match in Murrayfield as well as their high standing at the top of Pool A of the Celtic League, will not play their Irish squad members against Swansea on Saturday. Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Brian O'Driscoll, Girvan Dempsey, Emmet Byrne and Malcolm O'Kelly will not start.
Some confusion surrounded the Leinster match following a Celtic League meeting last week during which there was a suggestion to switch it to Friday night to suit BBC Wales.
Leinster, however, heard nothing on the issue and had already booked flights for the Saturday game. It was then impractical to revise the schedule and get the team to Wales on Friday so the match will be played on Saturday at 2.30 p.m. The team will be announced today, possibly along with the Leinster European Cup panel.
Ireland and Lions front row Paul Wallace, who has been training all season, puts his injured ankle to the test for his first run-out in a match. Wallace will play for 20 minutes for Blackrock, his first competitive outing since injuring himself over a year ago while playing for Saracens. It is likely that Bob Casey and Leo Cullen, also returning from injury, will get a run in Swansea.
Munster's scheduled match against Cardiff on Friday has been postponed due to the National Day of Mourning in Ireland. Officials, however, are trying to rearrange the game in Thomond Park for Saturday although they won't know if this is possible until this morning.
Munster, on top of Pool B, have made a number of changes to the side that defeated Caerphilly on Tuesday. Irish prop John Hayes may not have recovered fully from illness and Martin Cahill may come into the front row.
In the back row Alan Quinlan has a shoulder problem while David Wallace has a knee injury. As a result the back row will be picked from those two players, Jim Williams and Anthony Foley.
Connacht, who meet Caerphilly at the Sportsgrounds on Sunday, have not yet announced a team.
MUNSTER (v Cardiff): D Crotty; J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes or M Cahill, M Galwey, M O'Driscoll, from A Quinlan, D Wallace, J Williams, A Foley.
