RUGBY: Paddy Wallace could be forgiven for being a mite confused. A call-up to the Ireland squad for next week's World Cup qualifier against Russia in Siberia on Monday was followed yesterday by the news that he had been dropped by his province, Ulster, for Saturday's Celtic League clash against Swansea.
Wallace's joy at his promotion to the Irish set-up at the behest of coach Eddie O'Sullivan, as one of two backs called into a 26-man travelling party, was tempered by his demotion to the bench for the Celtic League clash.
Ulster coach Alan Solomons confirmed Wallace had been dropped to the replacements bench. "It's a big call to leave Paddy Wallace out but I felt it would have been wrong to play him ahead of Bryn (Cunningham), who has shown great form of late.
"Paddy was out of the game for five weeks at one stage and has struggled. That's understandable. He's not in the form he was in."
Ulster make five changes and a positional switch to the team that was unfortunate to slip to a one-point defeat at Ravenhill last Friday. James Topping, Adam Larkin and David Humphreys are recalled to the backline in preference to Sheldon Coulter, Ryan Constable and Wallace respectively; Constable and Wallace are included among the replacements.
There are two changes up front. Justin Fitzpatrick comes in at loosehead, with former Springbok Robbie Kempson switching across the front row, to the exclusion of Simon Best, who is included among the replacements. Jeremy Davidson, who had been injured, returns to partner Mark Blair in the second row.
Munster coach Alan Gaffney has made six changes from the side that beat Ebbw Vale for their Celtic League game against Edinburgh at Meadowbank. John Kelly returns on the wing in place of Mossy Lawlor, Rob Henderson comes into midfield to partner Mike Mullins, and Jason Holland moves to outhalf in place of Killian Keane.
Frankie Sheahan and John Hayes are restored to the front row, replacing James Blaney and Simon Kerr. Donncha O'Callaghan is reunited with Mick O'Driscoll in the second row.
Anthony Foley returns at number eight as captain, Jim Williams moves to blindside flanker and Alan Quinlan to openside, with Colm McMahon losing out in the reshuffle.
Ronan O'Gara (cut ear) and Peter Stringer (rested) were not considered.
Connacht have made four changes for their trip to Donnybrook where they take on the defending Celtic League champions Leinster on Friday night, a match that will be shown live on TG4 (7.35). Chris Keane is preferred to Eoin Reddan at scrumhalf, Dan McFarland displaces Ronan McCormack at prop, and there are two changes in the back row. Johnny O'Connor is fit again following injury, while Garryowen's John O'Sullivan wins the number eight jersey ahead of Eric Peters.
Shane Horgan looks set for his first competitive start following an ankle injury.
The game between the two provinces will be preceded by an under-21 interprovincial between Leinster and Munster with a 5.30 kick-off.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, J Bell (capt), A Larkin, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson; M Blair, J Davidson; W Brosnihan, R Nelson, N McMillan. Replacements: P Shields, S Best, T McWhirter, N Best, K Campbell, P Wallace, R Constable.
MUNSTER: J Staunton; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, J O'Neill; K Keane, D Malone; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; J Williams (capt), A Foley, A Quinlan. Replacements: S Kerr, J Blaney, M Galwey, E Halvey, M Prendergast, K Keane, D Crotty.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; T Robinson, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), W Munn; E Elwood, C Keane; D McFarland, M Uijs, P Bracken; W Waugh, R Frost; M Swift, J O'Sullivan, J O'Connor. Replacements: R McCormack, J Flannery, C Rigney, P Neville, M Walls, S Moore, D O'Sullivan.
