Ireland's team manager Donal Lenihan has won the initial skirmish over the summer tour of Australia, having negotiated a four-match itinerary. The contentious issue of the fixture schedule has been longstanding. The hosts favoured a longer tour with the visitors preferring a short stay.
The Australians wanted a minimum six matches on the tour but coach Warren Gatland and Lenihan were adamant that they would not be bullied into accepting a ridiculous schedule that would include three Super 12 sides. Lenihan, who had been negotiating with the Australians for the past two months, confirmed: "We are absolutely delighted. We managed to cut down on the internal travelling with only three centres.
"We will also now be able to adhere to our World Cup fitness programme while on tour." The benefits for Ireland are obvious in that there are no midweek matches and the team management can concentrate on preparing one side, not two. History is littered with examples of Irish folly in undertaking ridiculous fixture schedules.
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief executive John O'Neill cited the IRFU's affirmation that they could not guarantee the availability of top players as the central reason for the clipped itinerary. He ventured: "The Irish were citing the late release of players from their clubs and we aren't really in a position to decide that they will play matches against their will. They looked at the schedule and requested a four-match itinerary which we have agreed to, albeit reluctantly."
The ARU were very vocal of their condemnation of the squad England sent last year and maintained that the IRFU had given them a commitment that the Ireland tourists would contain their premier players.
The Itinerary is: May 31st: Ireland v New South Wales Country, Gosford. June 5th: Ireland v New South Wales, Sydney. June 12th: Ireland v Australia, Brisbane. June 19th: Ireland v Australia, Perth.
Meanwhile, AIB League Division One leaders Garryowen will not announce a team before Saturday morning, offering every opportunity to second row Shane Leahy (shoulder) and number eight Ben Cronin (shoulder) to prove their fitness for the trip to Athlone.
Shannon have named an unchanged side from that which hammered Lansdowne 35-0 for their second successive game at Clanwilliam. Terenure are the visitors this weekend and they have yet to finalise a side. They await a medical report on Craig Fitzpatrick and should he recover in time then he will oust David Lynagh from the out-half berth.
The other area of contention is the composition of the back five. Colin Potts and Gavin Hill were both introduced the last day and are pressing strongly for inclusion from the start.
Clontarf will make a late decision on the fitness of scrum-half Ronan O'Reilly for the visit of St Mary's. If he fails to make it then Sebastien Berti will continue to deputise.
Cork Constitution will be without interprovincials Anthony Horgan (hamstring) and Cian Mahony (hand) for the game against Galwegians. James Kiernan continues on the right wing with John Kelly retained in the centre, a position he occupied after Mahony's early departure from the fray last weekend. Frankie Sheahan, Donnacha O'Callaghan and Jim Canning are restored to the pack.
Blackrock College must do without the injured Brian Carey and Alan McGowan while Paul Flavin is still suspended. Tom Keating moves to fullback, Paddy Dunne and David Johnson are on the wings with David Quinlan in the centre. Malcolm Cuffe is named at loosehead prop.
Ulster coach Harry Williams confirmed that none of his squad would play league fixtures at the weekend with the possible exception of Ballymena flanker Derek Topping and Portadown hooker Richie Weir both of whom may be required by their clubs because of the number of injuries to other players.
Blackrock: T Keating; P Dunne, E Robinson, D Quinlan, D Johnson; N O'Donovan, N Assaf; M Cuffe, S Byrne, I McLaughlin; R Casey, H Kos; R Wheeler, L Cullen, D Kennedy.
Galwegians: A Reddan; H O'Toole, P Duignan, M Murphy, N Carolan; E Elwood, D Mescal; P Kay, D Lee, D Dobson; G Heaslip, P Casserley; J Casserley, B Gavin, J Charlie.
Shannon: B Roche; J Lacey, P McMahon, R Ellison, A Thompson; C Burke, S Johnson; M Horan, M McDermott, J Hayes; M Galwey, D Kirby; A Quinlan, A Foley, E Halvey.
Clontarf: M Woods; D McElligott, M Smith, S Fitzsimons, O Winchester; R Murphy, R O'Reilly or S Berti; H Hurley, B Jackman, P McQuillan; C Power, R Vorster; C Brownlie, D Moore, P Ward.
Cork Constitution: B Walsh; J Kiernan, J Kelly, Conor Mahony, D O'Brien; R O'Gara, B O'Meara; I Murray, F Sheahan, J O'Driscoll; D O'Callaghan, K Murphy; D Corkery, U O'Callaghan, J Canning.
Terenure: C Clarke; D Coleman, B Treacy, M Smyth, G Dempsey; C Fitzpatrick or D Lynagh, N Hogan; S Barretto, J Blaney, J Campbell; (back five from): R Sheriff, C Potts, D Quinn, D Blaney, G Hill, B Kavanagh, E Miller, P O'Malley.
