RUGBY: If there had to be carnage anywhere then back row was the area Ireland could most afford to take the hit.
Indeed, it says something about Ireland's remarkable resources in this department that even without three established internationals - Keith Gleeson, Eric Miller and Alan Quinlan - they can field a triumvirate with a cumulative 100 caps.
Furthermore, a relative veteran with 38 Tests behind him, Victor Costello, is again confined to the bench for the tilt at the Triple Crown against Scotland on Saturday. Eddie O'Sullivan has opted for David Wallace as a straight swap for the injured Gleeson at openside rather than rejig an otherwise settled combination by moving Simon Easterby across from the blindside. It was the major, nay, only area of debate, most probably.
"The back row has functioned well as a unit and I thought it could upset the balance a bit by moving people around, so we decided to stick with Simon at six and Anthony (Foley) at eight," explained O'Sullivan. Then, he said, it became "a straight choice" between Wallace and the uncapped Ulster openside, Neil McMillan. Unsurprisingly, Wallace's "experience" held sway. Arguably Ireland's most dynamic ball-carrying forward in light of Keith Wood's retirement, though less of an authentic, groundhog openside than Gleeson, nonetheless, O'Sullivan appears to have reservations about Wallace, perhaps concerning his defence.
Having missed out on the World Cup, it is Wallace's first Test since winning his 18th cap with a try-scoring display in Murrayfield the day before he was omitted from the Oz odyssey, though he later travelled Down Under as an unused understudy when Quinlan flew home with the shoulder injury that has sidelined him ever since.
Elsewhere, the only other change occurs in another area of riches, the second row, where fit-again Paul O'Connell returns, with Donncha O'Callaghan reverting to the bench at the exclusion of Gary Longwell.
There are a number of injury concerns. In addition to Geordan Murphy (ankle strain), the Munster front row of John Hayes (a "tight back" and hip), Marcus Horan (a knock on the shoulder) and Frank Sheahan (calf) all took little or no part in training yesterday. But O'Sullivan was confident all would be fit for action before Saturday.
Being hot favourites at home goes with the territory, admitted O'Sullivan, and has induced a similar mindset to last week when setting specific performance goals. "I just hope we don't have another monsoon, or typhoon, or somethingsoon, like we had last week. In some ways it might be a little easier this week because of the prize that's at the end of it, but we won't take anything for granted," added O'Sullivan, who is wary of the Scots' habit of being "party poopers".
"If they turn us over next Saturday it will turn their season around. They've always reacted well to being underdogs, a bit like ourselves. They're a team due a big performance, and they wouldn't have any fears of Ireland. I think Scotland won't leave anything behind in Edinburgh, and will probably bring the kitchen sink with them as well."
O'Sullivan also notes Scotland had their good spells against France, "When they were very direct and when they ran really hard lines, and they didn't frill about. They have some big ball carriers, (Gordon) Bulloch, (Simon) White, (Jason) Danielli and of course Simon Taylor and they got quick ruck ball, which they're well capable of. If some passes had stuck they'd have had France in trouble and if they play well in that mindset they'll be difficult."
O'Sullivan hasn't thrown his hat at the Six Nations title, though he acknowledges the notion of beating Scotland by more than 50 points (the minimum requirement to remain in contention) is "a pointless focus for us. We'll just go out and focus on beating Scotland and win the Triple Crown, and then see what happens after that." Besides which, he fancies France to complete the Grand Slam by beating England.
His counterpart, Matt Williams, has insider knowledge of seven of this starting team, though Brian O'Driscoll counters that they have the inside track on his coaching ideals. The match is also notable for the captain winning his 50th cap, easily the speediest Irish player to reach the landmark - under five years. "I can't believe it's happened so quickly," admitted the 25-year-old, though he acknowledged on the flip side is the increased physical toll. "I came in at a time when professionalism was in for two or three years so I guess if you were to get 10 seasons out of it you'd be a very happy camper."
O'Driscoll singled out his hat-trick performance in Paris four years ago as the pick of his efforts so far. Out of contract at the end of this season and in negotiations with the IRFU and Leinster, O'Driscoll wondered aloud about the need for a fresh challenge abroad, though dropped a hint it wouldn't be next season. "Sometimes you need a change of scene just to be revitalised, as a player and as a person, but I don't know if I've reached that point yet. I haven't put a huge amount of thought into next year. I'll probably think more about it next Monday or Tuesday."Replacements: K Maggs (Bath), D Humphries (Ulster), G Easterby (Rotherham), M Horan (Munster), F Sheahan (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), V Costello (Leinster).
