RUGBY SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP:THE IRISH management were always likely to have given most thought and discussion to the outhalf and full-back positions prior to announcing their starting XV and replacements for Saturday's RBS Six Nations finale against an English team who are chasing a Grand Slam.
As a result, Andrew Trimble and Jonathan Sexton appear set for recalls to the Irish starting team, with word on the grapevine suggesting Luke Fitzgerald is set to miss out on the 22-man match-day panel after starting all four of Ireland’s Six Nations games to date.
It would appear that, in turn, Keith Earls is going to be entrusted with the full-back position after regaining form with two good performances in the win over Scotland and defeat to Wales, where he was arguably Ireland’s most potent runner.
Earls himself had an injury delayed start to the season with Munster, and had felt he was playing catch-up in the Munster midfield from October onwards. Ironically, he had speculated at the start of this Six Nations that his full-back days may have been over.
Earls has not started at full-back for Ireland since he made a try-scoring Test debut against Canada at Thomond Park in November 2008. His ten starts for Ireland since then have all been on the left wing.
Hence, if this does come to pass, it would still represent something of a reluctant gamble by Declan Kidney and his fellow coaches, given Kidney’s preference for retaining loyalty to players where at all possible, as well as a devastating blow for Fitzgerald.
Ronan O’Gara will also be hugely disappointed if he misses out on Saturday’s finale at the Aviva Stadium, but at least he would have the consolation of a place on the bench.
Having missed virtually all of last season when suffering a bad injury in the opening November Test against Australia, Fitzgerald returned in prime nick and form this season only to suffer another knee injury in mid-October, since when he has struggled to return to his best.
Keen to state his case at his preferred fullback in the absence of Rob Kearney and Geordan Murhphy, Fitzgerald has appeared edgy and ahead of himself in recent games, especially under the nigh ball.
Born 19 days apart, Earls and Fitzgerald were the stand-out talents in their school years and both members of the Irish schools’ team and the Under-20 Grand Slam winning side.
No less than Earls, Fitzgerald remains an immense talent, and despite his occasional difficulties under the high ball, his footwork when hitting the line was a threat. If Fitzgerald has been omitted, he will undoubtedly return, and hopefully as a better player for the experience.
One would imagine that Tomás O’Leary may well have started alongside Sexton in a reprise of the half-back partnership that helped Ireland beat England in Twickenham last season but his latest mishap in training yesterday – he is having an awful run of luck – ruled that out.
Presuming he has been passed fit by a neurosurgeon, it is expected Eoin Reddan will start.
Although Ireland having no silverware to play for on Saturday, the need for a win to restore self-belief, end the tournament on a high and avert a third defeat of the campaign as well as a first blank at home since the Five Nations were expanded to Six, is likely to reduce the inclination for change up front.
That said, there is also a small doubt about Cian Healy.
IRELAND (possible)
Keith Earls; Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan or Peter Stringer; Cian Healy or Tom Court, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Sean O’Brien, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip.
