IRELAND hooker and captain Keith Wood, who dislocated his left shoulder just before the interval in the match against France last Saturday, believes that he will be out of the game for a maximum of eight weeks.

But he still retains some hope that the recovery period may be shorter and that he might be back before Ireland complete their Five Nations' involvement against, Scotland in Murrayfield on March 1st.

Harlequins' player Wood returned to London on Sunday and is awaiting a specialist's report, which will indicate whether he needs an operation.

"Even if I require an operation, I understand that I could still be back playing within eight weeks. I am still retaining some hope that the recovery will be much quicker than that," he said.

Wood, a leading candidate for a place in the Lions squad to tour South Africa in the summer, is totally confident that he will be fit for that tour, if selected. "I am available for the tour, if selected, and obviously, I want very much to be chosen... But missing most of the Five Nations' series could put me at a disadvantage in terms of Lions selection," he said.

Meanwhile, the debate was continuing yesterday about whether Ireland reserve prop Paul Flavin is entitled to a cap, after he came onto the Ireland side in the 84th minute last Saturday. Flavin was presented with the cap on Saturday night. The circumstances under which Flavin replaced Nick Popplewell were, to say the least, exceptional, probably unique.

Flavin came on falter France had scored a try and before the conversion was taken. The final whistle blew immediately after the conversion and Flavin took no part in the match, other than to try and charge down the conversion.

But it the manner in which he came on which is basically causing the problem. There is a set procedure laid down for making a replacement and in that context, the circumstances in which Flavin replaced Popplewell are causing concern. But an important factor is that, even though the set procedure was not followed, the referee did in fact indicate to Flavin that he could come on.