International news: Eddie O'Sullivan replenished his resources ahead of Saturday's Test match against Argentina at Lansdowne Road, adding eight players to the 22 who were on duty in the 55-6 victory over the USA at the weekend.
The Ireland coach has restored some of his starting XV from the South Africa game to the 30-man squad from which he'll choose Saturday's team and, presumably for training purposes, called in a few more players for opposed drills at Lakelands tomorrow.
The Leinster trio of Denis Hickie, Malcolm O'Kelly and Reggie Corrigan along with Wasps openside Johnny O'Connor all played against the Springboks but were rested for the American match. Aidan McCullen (Leinster), Brian O'Meara (Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Harlequins) and Shaun Payne (Munster) have also been drafted into the extended squad.
O'Meara's presence is primarily attributable to a knee injury for which Guy Easterby is undergoing treatment. O'Sullivan explained: "If you remember Guy came off with a bruised knee on Saturday. There is nothing sinister, more a precautionary measure."
Easterby started the game against the USA but had to be replaced by Peter Stringer, the latter making his 50th appearance and capping it with a try.
Eric Miller dislocated a finger during the match but it was put back in place and the injury strapped up, allowing him to finish the game. There is no question of him not being available for the Argentina match, particularly in the light of his excellent performance the last day.
It's difficult to argue against the assertion O'Sullivan will restore Girvan Dempsey, Hickie, O'Kelly, O'Connor, Corrigan, Ronan O'Gara, Stringer, Shane Byrne and Anthony Foley to the starting line-up, thereby reconstituting the side that started in the 17-12 victory over South Africa. It's not a reflection of individual performances in the USA match but rather an acknowledgement from the coach he believes it to be his strongest team at present.
Geordan Murphy crossed for a brace of tries on Saturday but the likelihood is Dempsey will be restored to full back with the Leicester player returning to the right wing. This in turn would see Shane Horgan move to inside centre where he performed so capably against the Springboks with Kevin Maggs dropping to the bench.
It'll be a case of all change at halfback with Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer, replacing David Humphreys - his placekicking performance in the conditions was quite brilliant - and Guy Easterby, who will drop to the replacements; fitness permitting in the case of the latter.
Marcus Horan offered a vintage cameo of his footballing skills the last day but he too will probably step down with Frankie Sheahan as Corrigan and Byrne return to the front row. O'Kelly looks set to replace O'Callaghan, while there is likely to be two further changes in the back row. Miller's man-of-the-match display against the USA won't stall Foley's return while one young tyro will replace another at openside with O'Connor coming in for Denis Leamy.
What Ireland's victory over America did was muddy the waters slightly over selection issues with a number of players "putting their hands up" to use the coach's vernacular but probably not to the extent where the team that started against South Africa is altered. The Ireland team to play Argentina will be announced at lunchtime today while the Pumas will confirm their line-up on Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, it was a weekend for contrasting fortunes for Ulster coach Mark McCall and Alan Solomons, his immediate predecessor.
McCall watched the northern province claim a second successive win in the Celtic League with a victory over Cardiff on Friday night, following a recent run of poor results.
But a string of eight defeats in succession saw Northampton dismiss South African Solomons from his coaching post. The final straw was a 17-6 loss to bottom-placed Worcester at Franklin's Gardens in a Zurich Premiership clash on Saturday. That left Northampton hovering just one point off the foot of the table.
Solomons, who moved to Northampton from Ulster in the summer, will be temporarily replaced by a group of current players and coaching staff. Corne Krige has stood down as captain but will stay with the club.
Northampton chairman Keith Barwell admitted: "Alan is a great coach and we would like to thank him for his efforts during the last few months. However, for whatever reason, it has not worked out and the board is disappointed to announce that we feel it is now the appropriate time to make a change in the coaching structure.
"The club will be combing the world for another head coach. However, the ideal would be that our new temporary coaching set-up works out."
Northampton won their last league game against Harlequins at The Stoop on September 11th. They face Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park on Sunday before heading back to the Heineken European Cup fare with back-to-back games against Toulouse, whom they trail by one point in the pool.
IRELAND SQUAD ADDITIONS (to squad of 22 that played the USA Eagles): Reggie Corrigan (Leinster ), Aidan McCullen (Leinster), Johnny O'Connor (Wasps), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster), Gavin Duffy (NEC Harlequins), Denis Hickie (Leinster), Brian O'Meara (Leinster), Shaun Payne (Munster).
NOT CONSIDERED DUE TO INJURY: Victor Costello (Leinster), Kieron Dawson (London Irish), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Gleeson (Leinster), John Kelly (Munster), Neil McMillan (Ulster), John O'Sullivan (Connacht), David Wallace (Munster), Roger Wilson (Ulster).
