Broughton next in line

Whereas Munster can adopt a policy of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" and duly name an unchanged side for Friday's Guinness Interprovincial Championship against Leinster at Musgrave Park, their visitors are yet again in a quandary regarding their problematical outhalf position.

Hence Simon Broughton, DLSP's New Zealand-born outhalf of Irish extraction, could become the fifth player to fill the position in just ten matches over the last ten months.

The unavailability of Emmet Farrell and Andy Dunne has left Leinster without a recognised outhalf amongst their contracted players. After the flawed gamble on the recuperating Australian Nathan Turner against Connacht last Friday, coach Matt Williams attended the National Club Sevens at Anglesea Road last Sunday where Broughton played a starring role in DLSP's run to the final (where they were beaten by Shannon).

The 23-year-old Kiwi, whose mother hails from Omagh, has already been involved in some of Leinster's pre-season training sessions and has taken a prominent part over the last couple of days.

It would be another gamble but Broughton is a talented, elusive running out-half with a fine sevens pedigree, who scored six tries in Ballymena's 11-match division one AIL campaign last season. At any rate, it looks the best option available to Williams.

By comparison, the outhalves at the other three provinces are pretty much cast in stone over the last year (and a good deal more) and have been ever present in that time save for Ronan O'Gara being rested for one dead interpro rubber against Connacht and David Humphreys missing one game for Ulster through injury.

The outhalf being the linchpin of any team as much as he ever was, it's hard not to believe that this places Leinster at a considerable disadvantage. The number 10 is the playmaker and chief decision-maker on the pitch. He calls most of the shots, directs most of the tactical kicking, runs his back-line, takes the restarts, probably peels the oranges too and more often than not, he's also the place-kicker. Ideally, he'd be the coach's first player on the teamsheet.

Alas for Leinster, the opposite is true. It's as if some things never change. In fairness to Leinster, or perhaps more pertinently their current coach Matt Williams, their latest outhalf conundrum is not really of his making, following the flawed presumption that Burke was on his way, the ensuing departure of the neglected Barry Everitt, Farrell was sidelined until Christmas and then sod's law decreed that Andy Dunne was concussed in preseason.

Williams (having replaced the departed Ruddock) regarded Mark McHugh as first and foremost a centre, and so gambled on Turner, a once highly rated young Australian full back who has since gone to rugby league.

Turner clearly has real talent, but understandably is weeks and probably months away from being back to his best. Williams adopts a "don't blame Nathan, blame me" approach but, in the heel of the hunt, Leinster find themselves back pretty much where they started each of the last three seasons - the baton having passed from Richard Governey to Alan McGowan to Richie Murphy, back to McGowan and on to Everitt and then McHugh, with last season's eventual unearthing and development of Farrell now virtually counting for nothing.

Turner doesn't look the answer yet, and while McHugh would solve the place-kicking duties his best position is as a centre as opposed to a playmaking outhalf. Broughton, well disposed towards a running game, seems best suited to playing to Leinster's talented young back-line, though this leaves the place-kicking problem unresolved, with Leinster crossing their fingers and giving the job to Dempsey once more, or possibly even Brian O'Meara.

By comparison Munster have already an announced an unchanged side pending fitness tests on John Kelly's leg strain and David Wallace's ankle strain, but both are hopeful of playing.

"Both picked up slight knocks against Ulster as did Dominic (Crotty). He's fine now and I'll give John and David a little longer to see if they shake off their injuries," said Declan Kidney yesterday. "There's no point taking chances at this stage. I've said that no one will be selected unless they're 100 per cent."

Ulster and Connacht also plan to announce their sides today. Clem Boyd, forced to cry-off the Ulster side before the defeat to Munster with a lower back problem and replaced by Simon Best, is hopeful of being available. However, Steph Nel has some pressing concerns, notably Jim Ferris (knee) and Elwood (achilles heel) not to mention the possible suspension hanging over captain Mark McConnell - which may oblige Nel to leave a vacancy in his second-row.

The visit of Ulster constitutes the first Friday evening game in Connacht and will be the first part of a unique double-header with Bord na gCon. The first race on the ensuing greyhound meeting starting at 8.45. The bars will open from 5 p.m. - food and musical entertainment will also be provided.

MUNSTER: D Crotty; AN Other, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, P Clohessy, M Galwey (capt), J Langford, A Quinlan, A Foley, AN Other. Replacements (from): K Keane, C McMahon, J Staunton, T Tierney, J Murray, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, J Fogarty, J Hayes, P Bracken, J Kelly, D Wallace.