INTERNATIONAL NEWS: BY NAMING such an enlarged squad - 41 players - in preparation for the forthcoming Guinness Series against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina, Declan Kidney and his newly-assembled Irish think tank have deferred the more difficult decisions to another day.
But Kidney's first big call has been made, and after all the speculation it comes as no surprise he has reinstated Brian O'Driscoll as captain.
Apparently, O'Driscoll was told of the decision last week, in light of his efforts against Edinburgh and prior to his two-try performance against Wasps. He is still hoping to be fit for the first of the autumn Tests, against Canada at Thomond Park on November 8th, and were he to be he would be in line to lead Ireland for the 50th time against the All Blacks at Croke Park a week later, which would be quite a momentous occasion for him personally.
In initially deferring this decision until yesterday, Kidney and co had merely wanted to see firm evidence of a return to something like O'Driscoll's best in the first couple of months this season. After all, the 2007-2008 campaign had not been vintage O'Driscoll, even if he was hardly alone in that category.
Ireland's 85-times capped centre and all-time record try scorer, with 32, returned this season noticeably slimmer and fitter; recently he admitted to being about a stone lighter than last season.
For all his excellent work-rate and typically high-quality defence, however, it was his two line breaks and try against Edinburgh that confirmed his return to top form.
His opportunism, and another two tries, against Wasps would merely have confirmed the Ireland management in their decision.
Granted, there was an argument for a fresh voice, be it that of Paul O'Connell or Ronan O'Gara, on the grounds it might also liberate O'Driscoll some more. But as O'Driscoll had voiced his desire to remain on as captain, having relinquished the position at Leinster, the argument for reinstating him this week was compelling.
O'Driscoll was first made captain of his country against Australia in 2002 at the age of 23, and there has been a five-year investment in him as captain since he inherited the position full-time from Keith Wood after the 2003 World Cup. In light of his stint as Lions captain and his three years with Leinster, why sacrifice that investment? He should now, in theory, be an even better skipper.
Besides, captaincy has increasingly become a shared responsibility, and it's not as if O'Connell and O'Gara won't be capable of quickly overcoming any personal disappointment, the former remaining on as pack leader/chief enforcer and O'Gara the playmaker/decision-maker and goalkicker. As a leadership triumvirate, it still has a nice balance to it, whereas were either or both to get injured on foot of being captain, would it have felt right going back to O'Driscoll? The more you think it through, the more it made sense.
"I am delighted that Brian has agreed to Captain the squad for the Guinness Series 2008," said Kidney in a press release yesterday. "I have also opted to name a bigger squad than originally anticipated so that we can continue to familiarise a largely new-look backroom staff with a wider group of players.
"Our games assume additional importance this year considering their significance as regards our seeding position going into the World Cup 2011 draw being made in December. We are currently ranked 8th - just ahead of Scotland - so the fact that it is paramount to at least maintain a top-eight ranking, underlines the additional importance of our results against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina."
As ever with such a numerous squad, immediate observations concern those left out rather than those included, and the unluckiest is probably the Connacht openside Johnny O'Connor given his recent form. Two other full internationals, Isaac Boss and Frankie Sheahan, will be miffed to miss out, but a lack of form and a lack of playing opportunity unsurprisingly undid them.
The inclusion of seven props affords Kidney and especially the forwards coach Gert Smal a further look at an area where Ireland are not exactly overburdened with choice, all the more so as the provinces have a week off; and this accounts for three of the nine uncapped players in the squad, namely Cian Healy, Tom Court and Mike Ross, who played 30 times for Harlequins last season.
The others are Ian Dowling, Keith Earls, Jonathan Sexton, Ryan Caldwell and Donncha Ryan.
Bob Casey of London Irish, who won the last of his five caps over eight years ago against Canada, is back in from the cold.
Munster have the most numerous contingent, with 17, followed by Leinster with 11, and there are six from Ulster, six from across the Irish Sea and one, Gavin Duffy, from Connacht.
The squad assembles in Limerick on Monday morning and will be reduced the following Friday to 30, from which the 22 to face Canada will be named.
The tougher decisions appear to be perming three from eight in the backrow, the midfield (likely to be O'Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald) and the back-three combination from the eight or so available, including up to four fullbacks and the back-up halfbacks.
Kidney's likely lads
LUKE FITZGERALD
The 21-year-old's footwork, gamebreaking, offloading and eye for the line have been augmented by strong defence, notably against Wasps, and after he had been earmarked for a new midfield partnership in the summer Tests before injury, he looks set to add to his four caps alongside O'Driscoll.
ROB KEARNEY
Ireland's player of the tour last summer when outstanding at fullback against New Zealand and Australia, the 22-year-old has had only one chance to shine there for Leinster this season but his gravity-defying leaps and catches against Wasps were a reminder of his talent and his huge left boot ought surely be accommodated somewhere in the back-three combination.
KEITH EARLS
Nominally a centre and sometimes a winger, the 20-year-old has made an astonishing start to his rookie season as a converted fullback - save for a few dropped catches - with his strike running, footwork and pace. This autumn's Tests may have come a fraction too soon for him but his time will undoubtedly come.
TOMÁS O'LEARY
Surprisingly replaced the institution that is Peter Stringer in Munster's knock-out run to Euro glory, and has effectively remained Munster first choice at nine, an improved pass adding to his break and strong defence. The 24-year-old looks likely to break into the 22 and add to his two minutes on the wing in Argentina over a year ago.
JONATHAN SEXTON
His confidence appeared to be affected by Isa Nacewa's arrival at Leinster this season but the province's careful development of the 23-year-old was further borne out by his timely second-half performance against Wasps. Strictly on form as an outhalf where Paddy Wallace has yet to play this season - would merit inclusion as Ronan O'Gara's understudy.
IAN DOWLING
Another late-developing Munster talent, he may not be a pacey finisher à la Denis Hickie, but the recently turned 26-year-old is in his fourth season as a frontline member of the European champions' back line and along with a huge workrate rarely puts a foot wrong. Depending on where Kearney is picked, he could be a dark horse.
IRELAND SQUAD
BACKS
T Bowe (Ospreys), I Dowling (Munster), G Dempsey (Leinster), G Duffy (Connacht), K Earls (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), R Kearney (Leinster), G Murphy (Leicester), B Murphy (Munster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), R O'Gara (Munster), T O'Leary (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps), J Sexton (Leinster), P Stringer (Munster), A Trimble (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster)
FORWARDS
R Best (Ulster), T Buckley (Munster), R Caldwell (Ulster), B Casey (London Irish), T Court (Ulster), S Ferris (Ulster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), C Healy (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster), M Horan (Munster), B Jackman (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), A Quinlan (Munster), M Ross (Harlequins), D Ryan (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), R Wilson (Northampton)
