truebluefan

O'Sullivan reveals selection headaches

O'Sullivan will unveil his 30-man panel for the trip to France on Sunday, the day after their World Cup warm-up Test against Scotland.

In relation to the back row, Leinster young gun Jamie Heaslip will start at number eight at Murrayfield, while Ulsterman Stephen Ferris gets a chance to shine at openside flanker.

Neil Best, who will wear number six on Saturday, is certain to make the cut, as are Simon Easterby, Denis Leamy and David Wallace, who have all been rested.

Mick O'Driscoll, meanwhile, should also get the nod because of his ability to play at both lock and flanker.

However, O'Sullivan is keen to evaluate the respective claims of Alan Quinlan and Keith Gleeson, both of whom have been named amongst the replacements for the trip to Edinburgh.

The back three would appear to be far more clear-cut but Brian Carney and Tommy Bowe, who will start on the flanks against the Scots, both know they need big performances this weekend to seal their places in the squad.

"This game is very significant for those borderline cases," O'Sullivan told reporters in Dublin on Tuesday.

"I always said selection would always come down to this game in certain departments.

"The back row and back three are areas that are up for grabs.

"I'm reasonably happy with the data I have on the locks; it's the back row that is causing me the greatest headache. We have a plethora of back rows to select from.

"Like in the last World Cup (2003), we have an embarrassment of riches in that department. I'm just giving myself one last chance to look at the back rows.

" I'm also having another look at Gavin Duffy (Connacht's utility back) at centre after he performed well against Argentina.

"These are outstanding issues in terms of the World Cup squad. Much as we want to win the game on Saturday, it's a means to an end. It will play a role in the final selection for the World Cup," he added.

And O'Sullivan admitted that Bowe and Carney are effectively playing for one place.

"Tommy and Brian are both good strike runners and footballers," he mused. "Tommy has been in the squad for a while now and he's a very capable player.

"We took a punt on Brian in taking him to Argentina but we what we saw was very positive and we have to give him another opportunity.

"There's nothing in between the two of them so Saturday is very important. It's hard to differentiate between them."

truebluefan

Murphy has been selected at full-back for the game at Murrayfield and will be keen to impress in his favoured position after being forced to play second fiddle to Girvan Dempsey over the past year.

However, Murphy has long been mooted as a potential world-class fly-half - even at this late stage in his career - and O'Sullivan confirmed that he could be moved into the half-back line on Saturday.

"He is an option an outside-half if needs be," the Irish coach explained to reporters in Dublin on Tuesday.

"He is a very talented footballer who can play across the line. I'm not saying he'll play at outside half on Saturday, but it's a thought at the back of my mind."

However, O'Sullivan is more concerned with Murphy rediscovering his best form at number 15.

"Geordan could do with a game at full-back. He hasn't really featured all year for us," the Corkonian said.

"He didn't play on the Argentina tour but I want him to get a game under his belt and get his confidence back at full-back because he lost a bit during the Six Nations when he didn't make the starting XV."

Meanwhile, O'Sullivan has eased fears that Tommy Bowe, who has been named on the left flank, might not be 100 percent fit for the game in Edinburgh.

"Tommy is ok to play," he insisted. "He picked up a niggle last Friday but a scan revealed it was fine.

"We've given him a couple of days off to make sure he's firing on all cylinders on Saturday. If the worst came to the worst I would replace him with Andrew Trimble.

"But I'm hopeful that won't come about because it's an important game for Tommy.

"He got injured in the first Test against Argentina in the summer and didn't get a good hit out on tour, missing the second Test.

"That's why I'm anxious that he play in this one and prove his fitness."

truebluefan

It was half-way through last season when Leinster got the good news that two of their prodigal sons were coming home.


When Shane Jennings had left, it had come across like a clever smash and grab by Leicester. Here was a quality player who wasn't getting his game, so push the open door and let him out.

With Leo Cullen it was a little different. He had been around longer than Jennings. For the second row, getting game time hadn't been such an issue. Supporters were more taken aback at his departure, and so they have greater expectations about his return. He says he is unaware of any extra pressure that may bring down on his shoulders, but that either way he is just happy to be getting on with it.

"This is the team I grew up playing for," he says. "I didn't leave because I was unhappy, I just left because I was looking for a different challenge. And there was so much uncertainty here at the time, with not having a coach and so forth. It was an opportunity for me to leave and I thought it was too good at the time to turn down. I didn't know who the next coach was going to be and I just said: 'If I sign for Leinster for another three years I'll be 30, and do I want to go through my whole career just being in the one place?'

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truebluefan

The dust hadn't even started to settle on the World Cup disaster when the European front presented itself. If you remember when the draw was made last June, there was widespread disbelief that our top two provinces could have landed in such dangerous company.


In the space of 24 hours last March, Munster and Leinster went out at the quarter-final stage, and with differing degrees of resistance. Either would write the cheque now to be still standing when the knock-outs come around.

At least Munster are better equipped for this season's campaign in terms of overseas aid. It's been like a flood. Declan Kidney has two challenges immediately ahead: one is to re-harness the powers of his Irish players, not so much the Carneys, Sheahans and Quinlans who were chomping at the bit to get some rugby after their barren experience in France, but those higher on the billing. Like O'Gara and O'Connell and O'Callaghan, none of whom found the form he wanted over the last two months.

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truebluefan

The First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan, welcomed everyone to Cardiff last week for the media launch of this season's Heineken Cup by saying the city was looking forward to its fifth Heineken final.


And so it should, since the Welsh economy benefited to the tune of £25m when the Munster-Biarritz final came to town in 2006.

He added that he hoped to see fewer high kicks in the Heineken Cup than he had to endure at the World Cup. This sort of went down okay, although there is a local feeling that what is needed in the First Minister's back yard right now is a few more high kicks.

I bumped into Ian McGeechan and Dean Richards after the presentation. Now, there's a pair of rugby colossi for you. I asked them what they thought of Rhodri's wish.

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truebluefan

RONAN O'GARA turned in a man of the match performance to pilot Munster to victory on his first outing of the season for the side.


Afforded an early penalty after just two minutes, the out-half took full advantage, kicking Munster in front.

David Blair made sure that the lead was short-lived, with a penalty after 19 minutes, but Munster were dominating possession and playing with a fluidity sadly lacking in Edinburgh's play.

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truebluefan

With media coverage marked by its absence, the AIB All-Ireland League kicked into gear last weekend. Even allowing for post-World Cup depression, I think it is fair to say few fans noticed, save for an ever-decreasing number of diehards. And even less cared.


Media outlets base their coverage on potential interest and right now interest in our premier domestic competition is at an all-time low.

For those who are still bothered, I repeat, they are missing a level of rugby that is well worthwhile.

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truebluefan

Not just the game, but life in general is a little poorer this weekend, following the shock passing of rugby legend Ray Gravell in Majorca on Wednesday.


'Grav', for those of us privileged to play with and against him, wasn't just one of the all-time greats from the Welsh wizards of the Seventies but a unique individual whose passion for the game transcended all barriers. You couldn't invent him if you tried.

Sure, his early rugby fame when breaking into that all conquering Welsh line up alongside Stevie Fenwick, and as a minder for Phil Bennett, was based on crash tackling and crash ball carrying. Remember his trademark quote, "you've got to get your first tackle in early . . . even if it's late".

But get to know him and you soon discovered the bark to be much more scary than the bite. His infectious personality was underpinned by the most incredible insecurity.

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