AS the Ireland side has completed its involvement in the International Championship and the A team programme is also concluded, for the first time this season, the Ireland selectors will be free agents this weekend. Yet, there will be an international dimension to the programme in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League today.
Places on the forthcoming tour to New Zealand are up for grabs and this will add to the incentive of league points over the coming weeks.
The task of selecting the touring party now looks certain to be the responsibility of the new three-man Ireland team-management committee, manager Pat Whelan coach Brian Ashton and the third man, who is yet to be named.
Considerable progress towards naming the third man should be made this weekend. The IRFU had its monthly meeting yesterday and the election sub-committee of Eddie Coleman, Syd Millar and Noel Murphy also have a meeting scheduled this weekend before they consult with Whelan and Ashton.
Domestically, the league has now gone beyond the half-way point. Those teams with title and promotion ambitions will need the points at stake today to keep those hopes alive as gaps begin to open up in all four divisions. Liked wise, precious points are at stake in the relegation context.
In the first division, points difference separates the leaders, Lansdowne, and the defending champions Shannon, whoa have a two-point lead over Garryowen, Blackrock and Terenure. St Mary's stand one point further adrift of that trio. The only match that brings any of the top six clubs into direct opposition today is the meeting of St Mary's and Garryowen at Templeville Road.
Lansdowne will be at home, to Ballymena, who are on six points, while Shannon will be at home to Old Belvedere, who also have six points.
Terenure make the journey to Old Crescent, a club in the bottom four on four points - so a meeting of clubs seeking points for different reasons. Terenure must win to keep in touch with the leaders, while a win for Old Crescent would move the club nearer to the safety zone.
Bottom club Instonians will be at home to Blackrock, who must win to keep their title hopes alive. The meeting of Dungannon and Young Munster at Stevenson Park brings together two clubs both on four points, so precious points at stake in the fight against relegation. Old Wesley, who are on two points, badly need something from their visit to Cork Constitution, who are mid-table on seven, points.
The position in the second division is that two points separate the top four clubs, with Bective Rangers in pole position on 12.
They are one ahead of Dolphin and two better off than Sunday's Well and Clontarf. Wanderers, on nine points, play Bective today at Donnybrook and that is certainly a crucial match for both clubs with a win for Wanderers imperative if they are to keep their promotion chances alive.
Dolphin travel to NIFC, a club deep in the relegation zone, and Clontarf meet City of Derry who are at the bottom of the table and still without a point in the league. Sunday's Well are at home to, DLSP, who are on five points and in the bottom four of the table. UCC, on four points, will be at home to Malone, who are on six, and Skerries and Monkstown, both on eight points, meet at Holmpatrick. Greystones, another club on eight points, will travel to meet Highfield, who are deep in relegation trouble on two points.
The west is certainly awake in the third division as Galwegians lead the table on 13 points, two ahead of Buccaneers, who have a match in hand. Galwegians will be; very firmly favoured to keep their unbeaten record with a home match against Waterpark, who have yet to gain a point in the league. Buccaneers will play Dublin University, who have won only one match, at College Park.
Portadown, on 10 points from six matches, will be at home to Corinthians, who have five points, so the indications are that the top three clubs should win today. Queen's University and Bohemians, who are both on eight points, meet at Upper Malone. The meeting of Bangor and Collegians has a relegation issue as its central theme.
Suttonians take on Ballynahinch today, pitching the only two clubs in the league with 100 per cent records against each other.
Ards, in third place on 10 points, make the journey to Richmond, who are on eight, and the winners of that match will still entertain promotion hopes.a Ballina can consolidate their mid table position with a win against Armagh, who are second from bottom on two points. UCG, still without a point will be at home to CIYMS who can move to six points with a win, so, too, will Creggs if win their home match with Sligo.
. Reigning Super-12 champions Auckland raced in tries either side of half-time to beat South African provincial side Free State 24-15 in Bloemfontein last night. Full-back Adrian Cashmore contributed 14 points with an accurate display of kicking.
