Not so much a matter of selection but a simple head count to choose the Ireland team for today's final match in the Sanzar Under 21 Championship against Argentina. Injury and an influenza virus has decimated the squad and last night it appeared that only eight backs, seven of whom would be required for the starting line-up, would be fit.
Shane Horgan (fractured arm), David Quinlan (knee) and Jeremy Staunton (calf) are injured, while Bryn Cunningham, Shane Moore, Jonathan Davis and Paddy Wallace are on medication for the flu. Cunningham's condition has improved in the last 24 hours but Wallace has been confined to bed. Yesterday lunch-time Moore and Davis displayed symptoms of the flu and were immediately dispatched to their room, not to reappear until this morning.
UCD's Moore, who captained Ireland to their World Cup success at under-19 level two seasons ago, will partner Kevin Hartigan in the centre illness permitting, while Cunningham is named at full back. Andrew Dunne replaces Davis on the right wing, while the remainder of the backline is retained from the defeat by Wales.
Up front props Stephen Baretto and Simon Best will play their fifth successive match, a feat echoed by captain Leo Cullen: none of the trio have even enjoyed the luxury of being substituted in any game. UCC's Mick O'Driscoll is nursing a leg injury and with the inter-provincials starting next weekend, the Irish management have decided to rest him for this match.
Donnacha O'Callaghan will partner Bob Casey in the second row with UCD's Des Dillon coming in on the blindside flank and Paul Neville taking over from Michael Haslett in the number seven jersey. O'Driscoll, Aidan Kearney, Andy O'Brien and Jerry Flannery will cover the pack but replacement backs are few and far between.
If Wallace fails to leave his sickbed then Davis will cover the back three alongside replacement scrum-half David Spence. If Wallace and Cunningham are ruled out then Davis will play and Ireland will have no backline cover.
Ireland: B Cunningham (Bective Rangers); J Davis (Dungannon), K Hartigan (Garryowen), S Moore (UCD), T Keating (Blackrock College); M McHugh (St Mary's College), S Keogh (Old Belvedere); S Baretto (Terenure College), A Flavin (London Irish), S Best (Newcastle); D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), R Casey (Blackrock College); D Dillon (UCD), L Cullen (Blackrock College, capt), P Neville (Garryowen).
