Rugby/World Cup squad trimmed:And then there were 37. The painstaking, and painful, process towards the final selection of Ireland's 30-man squad for the World Cup advanced another stage yesterday when Eddie O'Sullivan trimmed his squad from this week's training squad of 48 in the University of Limerick.
The Irish coach conceded that not only will the team and replacements for the game against Scotland next Saturday be named from yesterday's list of 37, so too will the 30-man squad to be named the following morning.
"While the players that have been omitted may come back into the squad in the case of any injuries, it would be fair to say that these 37 players will form the basis of our final Rugby World Cup squad selection."
Among the 11 to be culled were Luke Fitzgerald, whose star appears to have waned since the 19-year-old outside back was fast-tracked into his Test debut against the Pacific Islands last November. Niggling injuries are believed to have frustrated the Leinster and Irish managements, before his opportunities were simply limited in his province's Magners Celtic League run-in. In Argentina, he was granted only a cameo in the second Test, and, despite looking sharp, it seemed then as if his chance had gone.
It's a pity, as he potentially provides cover in more positions than some of the players still in the squad. Although he has still to develop physically, and has been prone to missed tackles, at the very least he could also have provided a game-breaking spark from the bench. Still, given development and luck with injuries, a player of Fitzgerald's running ability and skill will hopefully have three World Cups to come.
In addition to the injured duo of Shane Jennings and Barry Murphy, the others to miss out were Robert Kearney, Kieran Lewis, Jeremy Staunton, Tomás O'Leary, Johnny O'Connor, Ryan Caldwell, Peter Bracken, Tony Buckley, Stephen Knoop and Roger Wilson.
Having named 22 forwards and 15 backs, the more difficult decisions will be up front, primarily in the back five of the pack.
Depending on whether O'Sullivan opts for a 16-14 or 17-13 split, it would appear Alan Quinlan, Stephen Ferris, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip, Mick O'Driscoll, Trevor Hogan and Leo Cullen are vying for two or three spots.
The other area of contention is the back three in the backs, with Gavin Duffy, Brian Carney and Tommy Bowe competing for one or two spots, although it has been whispered that, surprisingly, Geordan Murphy be in that mix.
Expected to be named on Tuesday in the starting line-up for Murrayfield, where the corresponding fixture four years ago cruelly put paid to his 2003 World Cup, a good game would surely set aside any doubts.
"The game against Scotland will be the last chance we have to look at players before we name our 30-man squad," said O'Sullivan. "After that, there will be some very difficult decisions to be made."
Finally, it has been confirmed that Ireland will play Bayonne in a warm-up match on Thursday, August 16th, kick-off 9pm local time.
World Cup squad
FORWARDS (22)
N Best (Ulster), R Best (Ulster), S Best (Ulster), L Cullen (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli), S Ferris (Ulster), J Flannery (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster), T Hogan (Leinster), M Horan (Munster), B Jackman (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), A Quinlan (Munster), F Sheahan (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), B Young (Ulster).
BACKS (15)
I Boss (Ulster), T Bowe (Ulster), B Carney (Munster), G D'Arcy (Leinster), G Dempsey (Leinster), G Duffy (Connacht), S Horgan (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster), G Murphy (Leicester), B O'Driscoll (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps), P Stringer (Munster), A Trimble (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster).
Not considered due to injury
S Jennings (Leinster) and B Murphy (Munster).
