News: After the most successful autumn series in Irish rugby history, coach Eddie O'Sullivan received another boost with the announcement of an 'A' international against France on Friday March 11th in Donnybrook.
It is the first Irish 'A' fixture since England came to Dublin in 2003. The grade was dropped after Scotland and Wales were unable to field squads due to financial constraints.
O'Sullivan welcomed the opportunity to see more players competing on a higher plane than provincial standard: "This game will be important in developing Irish players and gives them the opportunity to gain valuable international playing experience," he said.
"It also gives the Irish coaching staff the opportunity to monitor players outside of the provincial competitions and it is vital this sort of player development continues."
Meanwhile, the tensions that boiled over after Saturday's international against Argentina were put to one side yesterday as the Leinster squad, including Felipe Contepomi, began preparations for back-to-back Heineken European Cup matches against Bourgoin, starting on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.
The Argentinian outhalf, like many of his fellow countrymen playing in France, will not be released for Saturday's Test against South Africa in Buenos Aries.
The IRB refused to enforce regulation nine, which stipulates players must be released for international duty by clubs, as the fixture is outside the three-week autumn series and clashes with the European Cup.
"Felipe is a serious part of the squad and that's why we didn't release him," said Leinster manager Paul McNaughton.
"We didn't take pulling him lightly either but we just felt we needed him and he is now focusing his mind on the European Cup."
Bourgoin's aspirations for the competition had a setback when they lost heavily to Benetton Treviso in round two of the pool stages.
The weakened selection for that game raised questions about how seriously they were taking the tournament in comparison to their domestic league.
Nevertheless, the Leinster management have kept a close eye on their progress since with Declan Kidney travelling to see their narrow defeat in Biarritz two weeks ago, while assistant coaches Gerry Murphy and Bobby Byrne have also taken in recent games.
"I think it was more a case of they got their selection wrong against Treviso and were surprised," McNaughton continued. "They have been doing well since and are placed fifth in the French league."
The Leinster team will be announced tomorrow afternoon, with Victor Costello and Gordon D'Arcy the major injury concerns.
Munster will travel to Castres tomorrow without John Kelly after he sustained a bruised ankle on international training duty. The utility back will not be available for three more weeks.
Coach Alan Gaffney will name a 25-man squad today with the number being reduced to 24 if winger Anthony Horgan fails to recover from a hamstring injury he picked up, also with the Irish set-up.
With so many of Gaffney's squad having at least partial involvement in the international series the coach decreed yesterday a rest day.
"It's not ideal preparation but we knew this situation was coming," said Gaffney. "We gave the players time off today (Monday) as there is no point in flogging a dead horse. Castres haven't been overly hindered by the recent internationals so their guys have been playing together week in week out."
Paul Burke is expected to travel for Friday's match after making a speedy recovery from a potentially serious neck injury sustained during the weekend victory in Edinburgh but with Ronan O'Gara to return, Burke's on-field presence may not be required. The only other doubt is Denis Leamy who had stitches in his ear against Edinburgh but he, too, is expected on board tomorrow's flight. The team will be named on Thursday.
Ireland's return to the sevens circuit proper also takes place on Thursday when they compete in the two-day Dubai tournament. The side is coached by former Ulster and Australia sevens captain Ryan Constable and will travel directly on to George in South Africa for the second tournament of the series. Niall O'Brien is a late call-up in place of the injured Chris Keane.
IRELAND SEVENS: Gary Brown (Ulster, Belfast Harlequins), *Mark Bruce (Loughborough University), John Hearty (Leinster, Blackrock College), David Hewitt (Leinster, Clontarf), Ian Humphreys (Belfast Harlequins), Niall O'Brien (Clontarf, Connacht), *Seamus Mallon (Ulster, Dungannon), Michael McComish (Ballymena), Martin McPhail (Munster, UL Bohemians), *James Norton (Leinster, UCD), *Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin), *Niall Ronan (Leinster, Lansdowne)
* denotes new sevens cap
