DESPITE an inordinate number of injuries that meant restricted training for some and none at all for a few others in Dublin yesterday, the Ireland selectors expect to be able to name the side to meet France in Paris on Saturday week from a full squad, with the exception of back-row forward Eddie Halvey. He played his first match for three months on Saturday.
Among the casualties were, three players due to turn out for Ulster against New South Wales at Ravenhill tomorrow night - Jonathan Bell, Jeremy Davidson and David Tweed. And the bad news for Ulster is that Bell (rib injury) and Davidson (hip) are definitely out of the side, while a decision on Tweed's availability will be taken tonight "after he has treatment on a groin strain. This prevented him from training yesterday afternoon when the session took place at Merrion Road after the morning activity had been at Lansdowne Road.
Davidson did not train at all nor did Alain Rolland, who is troubled by double vision. Peter Clohessy did train in the afternoon, having been advised not to do so in the morning. He had slight chest and ear infections. Victor Costello, who damaged an ankle playing for Leinster on Friday night, watched the session in the morning but then took part in a vigorous scrummaging stint in the afternoon which was supervised by assistant coach John Mitchell, while Murray Kidd worked with the backs.
Tweed and Staples did participate in the morning but Staples damaged an ankle towards the end of the session and took no further part, nor did Tweed as a groin strain tightened up appreciably. Bell was able to do some ball work in the afternoon but could not get involved in any contact play. "I have been told I would not be fit to play for Ulster and so must withdraw," said Bell. Davidson got similar advice. "I am still hoping I will be ready to play for Ulster," said Tweed, but admitted his chances were not bright.
Halvey, who made his return to the game when he played for Shannon on Saturday after being out of action with a groin-stomach muscle injury, trained in the morning but a stiff neck ruled him out of the afternoon session. "I certainly felt a bit rusty in the match and I fully accept that I will not be a contender, for the match in Paris," he said. Ireland manager Pate Whelan confirmed that Halvey will not be considered for selection against France.
"I think some of the players may be more concerned with their injuries than we are, said Kidd after the completion of the morning session. Implicit in that statement was the firm belief that none of the injuries is serious. Maybe he felt, too, that at times players can be too cautious about training when things are not exactly 100 per cent.
Anthony Foley, Malcolm O'Kelly and Simon Mason, all of whom played in the Students trial in the early afternoon, joined the session in the course of the afternoon, even though Foley suffered a broken nose in the trial. Paul Flavin, the Ireland A prop, was also present after lunch.
The team to meet France will now be chosen next Saturday morning and announced in the afternoon. Whelan is releasing the players based with English clubs to play in cup ties next Saturday. The players concerned are Conor O'Shea, Staples, Simon Geoghegan and Nick Popplewell. "But we will still have a session on Saturday afternoon and two more sessions on Sunday. The players who play in the cup ties will travel over on Saturday night to join the squad."
Whelan and Kidd were in Murrayfield on Saturday to see Scotland defeat France and were very impressed with the Scots' performance. Kidd said he expected that France might make a few changes for the match with Ireland. "I do not see us suffering a backlash from France because of the result on Saturday. You will always be more confident going into a match having won the previous game," he said.
