A hotchpotch of ambition and ability, the intermingling of fledgling careers brimful of promise with those players seasoned by experience among the elite, but who are slipping in the opposite direction . . . . the A international arena is a curious breeding ground where the lack of continuity in personnel terms ensures that the task of coaching this amalgamation can be a poisoned chalice.
This evening in Ebbw Vale, a Welshman Mike Ruddock, will attempt to plot the downfall of his kinsmen, in his guise as coach to the Ireland A team. He has already enjoyed victory over the French at Donnybrook a fortnight ago and much like that occasion finds his plans disrupted by injury.
The number six jersey appears cursed for this match with Trevor Brennan (suspension) and David Corkery (back injury) having already cried off. David Wallace is drafted into the back row although whether he will play open side or blind side is not yet clear. Ruddock may ask Wallace and Shannon's Alan Quinlan to play left and right given the flexibility of the duo in question.
Niall Woods' elevation to the senior team has allowed Bedford wing Darragh O'Mahoney to refresh the collective memory of the selectors. One hopes that the three-quarter line will be afforded the scope to be judged in an attacking context. By all accounts, former schools international Gordon D'Arcy enjoyed an excellent A debut against France and he will be hoping to consolidate that form.
More will be demanded from the half-backs: Barry Everitt needs to be more authoritative and bring a greater purpose to his game. None doubt his ability but a player should not last long by reputation alone. London Scottish scrum-half Guy Easterby is an unfamiliar figure in Irish rugby circles but boasts some glowing reports on his form at club level.
It will be an evening of celebration for the Easterby family as Guy's younger brother Simon has been called into the replacements. Simon was Ireland's outstanding player at under-21 level two seasons ago and appears to have converted successfully from number eight to open side for his club Leeds. He possesses great talent and, given the opportunity, could be a valuable acquisition to the extended Irish squad.
There are signs that Lansdowne's Reggie Corrigan is recapturing some of the form that he showed last season, a timely fillip for a player under pressure. Hooker Allen Clarke leads a hard working eight who will rely heavily on the Ballymena pair of Mark Blair and Gary Longwell for possession out of touch. Given the mobility of the back row, one assumes that Ireland will adopt an expansive approach.
The Welsh side harbours eight full internationals, five in the pack. Fullback David Weatherley has been capped, left wing Anthony Sullivan is a rugby league international while the half-backs, Arwel Thomas and Paul John, enjoy the priceless combination of ability and experience.
Much travelled London Irish prop Peter Rodgers is the only uncapped player in the front row while in second row the Moore brothers, Steve and Andy, have played at senior level. Cardiff flanker Owain Williams is a previous try scorer against Ireland at this level and he is joined by two New Zealanders in the back row, Neath's Brett Sinkinson and Richard Arnold of Newcastle.
The irony of the A international scene is that good individual performances are the most priceless commodity, yet to achieve that requires a collective display form the team. Wales have already beaten Scotland (20-8) and, given their record at home against Ireland, must be favoured to continue on their winning ways.
WALES: D Weatherley (Swansea); N Walne (Richmond), S Winn (Brigend), J Levin (Pontypridd), A Sullivan (St Helen's); A Thomas (Swansea), P John (Pontypridd, capt); P Rodgers (London Irish), A Lamerton (Pontypridd), B Evans (Swansea); S Moore (Cardiff), A Moore (Swansea); O Williams (Cardiff), B Sinkinson (Neath), R Arnold (Newcastle).
IRELAND: G D'Arcy (Lansdowne); J McWeeney (St Mary's College), S Horgan (Lansdowne), K Keane (Garryowen), D O'Mahoney (Bedford); B Everitt (Lansdowne), G Easterby (London Scottish); R Corrigan (Lansdowne), A Clarke (Dungannon, capt), A McKeen (Lansdowne); M Blair (Ballymena), G Longwell (Ballymena); A Quinlan (Shannon), A Foley (Shannon), D Wallace (Garryowen).
