White smoke didn't exactly billow from the Irish squad session at the ALSAA complex in Dublin yesterday, but halfway through the afternoon work-out 15 white jerseys emerged from a 38-man huddle.
As significant pointers go, the `practice team' which shone from the massed attendance was the clearest signal yet of the likely make-up of the Irish team to play Scotland on Saturday week.
If the apparent Whites XV is anything to go by, then it would seem that Conor O'Shea, Brian O'Meara, Paul Wallace, David Corkery and Kieron Dawson will be recalled to the side, as, presumably, will the absent Nick Popplewell.
Then again, you never know. Brian Ashton and his coaching team used two, full forward packs and three separate back lines during the morning and afternoon sessions. Mike Ruddock and Warren Gatland oversaw the set-piece practice in which Corkery's presence among what seemed a senior `eight' was conspicuous.
Meantime, Ashton oversaw the three back-lines with fellow selectors Pat Whelan and Donal Lenihan looking on. Admittedly, Niall Hogan and Kevin Nowlan appeared to be retaining their places as the back-line which played in Bologna worked together.
However, come the full-scale afternoon finale, a practice XV emerged which seemed uncannily like a first-choice team given it's make-up: O'Shea; Hickie, Maggs, McCall, O'Mahony; Humphreys, O'Meara; Corrigan (deputising for the unwell Popplewell), Wood, Wallace, Johns, O'Kelly, Corkery, Miller and Dawson. Sigificantly also, the skipper Wood was calling them together in his customary pre-match battle mode.
"It would be totally incorrect to make any assumptions," stated Whelan moments after the intensive session had concluded. But then again, he would say that, wouldn't he?
Malcolm O'Kelly twisted an ankle and departed prematurely; Ross Nesdale's participation was limited by a sore knee and Angus McKeen was called in due to Gavin Walsh's withdrawal with a hamstring strain, but none of the injuries were unduly concerning.
In any event, the guessing game will be concluded at 10 a.m. in the Berkeley Court Hotel today, when the selectors (all of whom will be present in a break with the accustomed practice before the recent managerial spat) will also unveil the hand they've dealt the A team management of Ray Coughlan and Davey Haslett.
The senior squad will come together in Limerick on Monday and, in a further break with previous custom, train up to and including Thursday.
All in all, it seemed a pretty focused, skilful work-out - featuring few dropped balls - with Ashton again giving the players more responsibility as the afternoon wore on. But the coach admitted he has "yet to see any great evidence of improvement" in match scenarios, "which is a bit of a disappointment."
"I provided a framework for the players and we did little drills to identify what we want to put into the game. They've actually put the drills into the game pretty well and I think this was one of the better training sessions this afternoon from all the players involved. But we've been coming up against a brick wall for it's a matter of translating that training performance into a match environment."
Ashton retains his faith in the players' ability to put the practice into practice, as it were. Asked why it hadn't happened so far, he said: "That's a million dollar one, that is. You've all seen some good sharp stuff at the training sessions like today, but so far you don't see that on the field of play, or not very often anyway. I don't know what the reason is, but we'll keep plugging away. If we play like we did in training we'll be a dangerous side."
Watching the Italians emulate their win over Ireland against Scotland in Treviso last Saturday, albeit much later in the game, Ashton was reasonably encouraged that the Irish can begin their Five Nations' campaign with a win.
"I think the scoreline (25-21) didn't reflect the way the game went. The Italians played better against Ireland that they did against Scotland, and that was the general view. They made a lot of uncharacteristic errors on a typically Venice winter's day. Scotland stayed in the game because of two intercept tries. Italy were denied two very good tries and there should have been a difference of 20-odd points."
"I said to the players this morning that we can beat Scotland and we've got to go out and win that game. It's as simple as that. End of story."
Meanwhile, the Scots have added veteran Wasps second row Damian Cronin and another second row, Watsonians' Stuart Grimes, to the squad which was on duty in Treviso. However, they've deferred the selection of the starting XV until next Monday, and openly admit they are considering changing the captaincy.
The form of Rob Wainwright has dipped in the midst of a collective slump, and the selectors are considering whether a change of leadership might benefit player and team alike.
All the players on duty in Italy have been retained with the exception of prop Peter Wright, who was only called upon as an 11thhour replacement for George Graham in any case. The Newcastle player takes his place in the squad after recovering from the hamstring strain which prevented him making a first start on Saturday.
Scotland Squad: R Shepherd (Melrose and Caledonia), T Stanger (Hawick and Scottish Borders), C Joiner (Leicester), D Stark (Glasgow Hawks and Glasgow), A Tait (Newcastle Falcons), C Chalmers (Melrose and Scottish Borders), C Murray (Hawick and Scottish Borders), G Townsend (Northampton), G Armstrong (Newcastle Falcons), A Nicol (Bath); G Bullock (West of Scotland and Glasgow), G Scott (Dundee HSFP and Caledonia), G Graham (Newcastle Falcons), D Hilton (Bath), M Stewart (Northampton), D Weir (Newcastle Falcons), S Murray (Bedford), D Cronin (Wasps), S Grimes (Watsonians and Caledonia), R Wainwright (Dundee HSFP and Caledonia), S Holmes (London Scottish), A Roxburgh (Kelso and Scottish Borders), P Walton (Newcastle Falcons).
Referee: Andre Watson (South Africa).
Touch Judges: Clayton Thomas (Wales), Ed Morrison (England).
