RUGBY:Jeremy Staunton linked up with the Irish squad this morning and is set to make his first start at outhalf for Ireland in Saturday's second Test against Argentina if Paddy Wallace does not recover from a strained knee ligament.
Though it did not affect his running or passing, Wallace gradually found kicking too painful when being forced from the field in Saturday's 22-20 defeat to Argentina in Santa Fe.
"He's 50-50 at the moment for next week," said Ireland's coach, Eddie O'Sullivan, yesterday.
Andrew Trimble (ankle strain) and Tommy Bowe ("a bang on the AC joint") are also doubts, though they might have made way for Barry Murphy and Robert Kearney anyway.
But there could be even more than the anticipated 10 or 11 changes when the team is announced tomorrow.
Viewing Saturday's game as a trial with a view to the composition of the 30-man squad for the World Cup, the Irish coach was pleased with what he learnt.
"I saw a lot of stuff that will go into the hopper," he said. "I can't obviously tell you what we learned; that would be unfair to everybody. There was a lot of stuff we saw . . . which was good information."
The impressively composed rugby league recruit Brian Carney was among the positives.
"I thought he had a very solid game. It's a big ask to make the transition, only in the time frame. If Brian Carney had a year to make this transition, I think it would be a no-brainer, because he's a very good professional, a very good footballer and a bright guy.
"I've an awful lot of respect for the lad. At the moment I'm very happy with the way he's come through the first test."
O'Sullivan bemoaned the 13-9 penalty count against Ireland.
"The one before half-time for foul play for a three-pointer was a killer," he said in reference to Bryan Young's needless use of the knee off the ball.
"There was one harsh one against Trevor (Hogan) for coming in from the side, but in fairness to the referee he wasn't wrong 13 times. That's the one thing we would criticise the players for."
Some of the back play was undistinguished, several planned moves off setpiece ball going awry. "We put some ball on the ground in the middle of the field, but the whole midfield had very little experience and were playing together for the first time, so I'm not going to be too hard on them for that," said O'Sullivan.
"Our pack played well but our backs didn't do much damage; that's a fair point. But I'm not too worried about that at this point."
Felipe Contepomi, the Argentinian captain and match-winner, could scarcely conceal his delight.
"We only got together four days before the test match. We trained with people I never even knew their names.
"Obviously it won't count that much for the World Cup, but we kept our calm and believed in what we had."
Given the presence of five non-professionals in the starting XV, he was particularly happy with the way the team lasted 80 minutes, and that they overcame the nerves caused by playing in front of a 20,000-plus crowd for the first time in their lives.
Argentina's head coach, Marcelo Loffreda, has confirmed the 22-man squad for next Saturday's test in Buenos Aires.
Players who were involved in the French league have returned to the squad.
Contepomi and Hernan Senillosa, who between them scored all Argentina's 22 points in Saturday's win, will not feature. Contepomi returns to Dublin for his graduation as a doctor.
ARGENTINA (squad v Ireland): H Agulla (Hindu), M Ayerza (Leicester Tigers), M Gaitan, M Bosch, M Carizza (Biarritz), M Schustermann, P Bouza (Leeds Tykes), M Contepomi (Rovigo), T De Vedia (Saracens), M Durand, F Todeschini (Montpellier), JM Fernandez Lobbe (Sale Sharks), N Fernandez Miranda (Aviron Bayonnais Rugby), E Lozada, P Gambarini (both CASI), S Gonzalez Bonorino (Capitolina), E Guinazu (Agen), P Henn (Montauban), JM Leguizamon (London Irish), F Leonelli (Glasgow Warriors), F Serra (SIC), N Vergallo (Jockey Club Rosario).
