Davidson set for showdown

Jeremy Davidson took a full part in Ireland's session in Clonakilty yesterday and, depending on how his back strain reacts overnight, then he should be available for selection for this Sunday's eagerly anticipated Pool E showdown against Australia.

Furthermore, all the walking wounded from the previous day's run-out in Clonakilty took a full part in training yesterday, namely Keith Wood, Eric Miller and Reggie Corrigan. Thus, the only idle member of the 30-man squad was Peter Clohessy, whose flu-related back strain is "improving all the time" according to manager Donal Lenihan.

Thus, it's conceivable that the Irish management may yet have a full-strength squad to pick from after returning to Finnstown House from their escapist retreat at the Lodge and Spa at Inchydoney Island today, prior to announcing the starting XV to play Australia at lunchtime tomorrow. The squad will not be training at King's Hospital tomorrow as was originally planned.

Furthermore, the nearer this pivotal match comes, the more likely it is that Ireland will do as Australia have done, and go for it in time-honoured Irish fashion. They clearly believe they have a chance on Sunday, and for all his curve balls in the build-up to the tournament, Warren Gatland himself is too much of a competitor to do otherwise.

Perhaps wearying of the debate about tampering with a first-choice selection and even preferring the runner-up route in the knock-out stages, which could conceivably mean a quarter-final at home to France as opposed to a trip to Wales (albeit after an additional play-off match), Gatland bridles at the suggestion that Ireland mightn't give this game their best shot.

"There's no way we'll be going into Lansdowne Road without trying to win this game 100 per cent. We're picking a side that's going to go out there and give us 100 per cent. If in any way we weren't going to do that, the intensity of the training over the last couple of days wouldn't have been the same."

"We would have been looking to rest players, and the players are up for it mentally, they're looking forward to the game and we made a commitment to ourselves after the second Test in Perth, when probably throwing away what we thought was an opportunity to beat Australia. We said `remember how we feel (now) and wait 'till we get them to Lansdowne Road on October 10th.'

"I know the players are looking forward to it. As a management group we are looking forward to it. Donal (Lenihan) has mentioned the crowd and we want to give the crowd something to cheer about. We were happy with our first-up performance and we want to build on that and go forward."

This still didn't say anything specific about the team selection, per se, though it constituted a pretty clear statement of intent. To do anything other than pick the strongest available selection would almost seem like a contradiction, and on the basis that Clohessy is declared fit it may well be the same starting XV for the third Test running.

There will be a bucket collection for the Danny Noonan Trust Fund at Lansdowne Road on Sunday prior to the World Cup game. The 19-year-old Noonan played for Galbally and also represented Rockwell College, Munster Schools and Garryowen under-20s. But his playing career ended when he suffered severe spinal injuries in a Munster Junior League match while playing for Galbally. He is presently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at the National Rehabilitation Institute in Dun Laoghaire.

A cheque for £250,000 has been presented by the president of the IRFU, Billy Lavery, to Councillor Allan Rainey, chairman of Omagh District Council, who received the donation on behalf of the Omagh Fund at a function in the Omagh Academicals Rugby Club. The donation has helped to increase the total raised to over £6 million.