Dirt-trackers ready to renew acquaintances

The so-called dirt-trackers kick-off South Africa's three-match Irish leg of their European tour against the Combined Provinces at Musgrave Park this evening in what will be a renewal of acquaintances for many of them. Eight of the home side had similar status on last summer's Irish tour and 11 of the South Africans encountered them en route.

It's significant to note that not one of the South African 11 ever experienced that losing feeling against Ireland, and the mid-weekers' form thus far has been fairly ominous. They beat Glasgow Caledonians by 62-9 in the tour opener and a week ago accounted for Edinburgh Reivers by 49-3, scoring 16 tries and conceding none.

The tourists are hopeful of a big turn-out tonight and with memories of the Pretoria affray still vivid, it would seem that the South Africans' arrival in Ireland has added a bit of an edge to their tour.

Their number eight Andre Vos, who says it is "a dream come true" to captain his country for the first time, admitted: "I've never played against an Irish side before but from talking to all the players I am assured they are incredibly physical."

Indeed, physical seemed the operative word at their press conference yesterday. Gaffie du Toit, now seen as a converted full-back after initially making a stunning breakthrough in his rookie representative year with Griqualand West as an out-half (where he made his Springbok debut in the first test against Ireland), readily vouched for this aspect of Irish play.

"Having made my test debut against them I can speak of the physical nature of that contest." The memory far from displeased him, as he spoke of this game as more "challenging and exciting" than the previous midweek matches.

In fact, the Springboks' media friendly assistant coach Alan Solomons, who readily understands rugby's place in the Irish sporting pecking order, is also "well aware of how dangerous Irish sides can be for touring teams because it's written in the history books."

However, he warned that the tourists' midweek side "is starting to gel. These two games (they play Ireland `A' in Belfast next Tuesday) are what they have been aiming for."

Ironically, the close shave against Wales in the first leg of their putative Grand Slam opened unexpected avenues into the Test side for Bobby Skinstad and big-tackling centre Christian Stewart, and thus held out a carrot for all the South African dirt-trackers.

Aside from du Toit, other interesting selections see Lourens Venter, a double try-scorer against Ireland for Griquas, moved from centre to the wing, while Andre Venter, dropped to accommodate Skinstad in the Test side last week, begins what could be a new career at lock.

Admittedly, only six of the side which accounted for the Reivers are retained this evening as Nick Mallett utilises his 36-man squad, but even so there is likely to be far more understanding within the tourists' ranks than in the scratch home side which Mike Ruddock has been handed.

With the interprovincials completed and the European Cup near conclusion, opportunities to advance individual claims at representative level are rapidly diminishing. In the season's analysis, this then is sure to be a big game for a number of the home players bearing in mind the `A' team, as well as the Irish Test side, will be selected tomorrow.

The ripple effect caused by the promotion of Reggie Corrigan and David Corkery to the senior squad has resulted in Des Clohessy and Declan O'Brien being called onto the Province's bench in light of Emmet Byrne and David Wallace being promoted to the starting XV.

It will be particularly interesting to see how the all-Munster back-row goes. Wallace has had limited opportunities in the Munster scheme of things while the lines of communication between the Irish management and the mercurial Eddie Halvey have been opened up like never before.

Significantly, Declan Kidney has discernibly focused Halvey's allround attributes on more of a specialist open side in recent games for the province. Hope springs eternal that the story of a largely unfulfilled but immense talent still has a few twists in the tale.

Combined Provinces: C Clarke (Terenure); J Kelly (Cork Constitution), K Keane (Garryowen), M Murphy (Galwegians), J Cunningham (Ballymena); B Everitt (Lansdowne), S Bell (Dungannon); E Byrne (St Mary's), A Clarke (Dungannon), J Hayes (Shannon), M Galwey (Shannon, capt), J Duffy (Galwegians), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Foley (Shannon), E Halvey (Shannon). Replacements - P Stringer (UCC), S Horgan (Lansdowne), S Mason (Ballymena), D Clohessy (Young Munster), S Byrne (Blackrock), G Longwell (Ballymena), D O'Brien (Clontarf).

South Africa: L Venter (Griqualand West), R Fleck (Western Province), F Smith (Blue Bulls), B Paulse (Western Province); B van Straaten (Gauteng Falcons), W Swanepoel (Free State); T van der Linde (Western Province), N Drotske (Free State), W Meyer (Free State), A Venter (Free State), S Boome (Western Province), C Krige (Western Province), A Vos (Golden Lions, capt), P Smit (Griqualand West). Replacements - R Markram (Griqualand West), D Kayser (Eastern Province), C Alcock (Eastern Province), J Trystman (Western Province), O Nkumane (Golden Lions), O le Roux (Natal Sharks), AN Other.

The Smithwicks Old Belvedere Floodlit Cup final takes places in Anglesea Road this evening (kick-off 7.30) and is a repeat of last year's final between Lansdowne and Clontarf, who are seeking to atone for their Leinster League final defeat to Terenure last Sunday week.