THE Ireland manager, Pat Whelan, is confident Simon, Geoghegan will be fit to take his place on the right wing against, Wales at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. Geoghegan is under treatment for a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Ireland side that lost to France and restricted his training last, weekend.

"As originally planned, we will make a decision on Thursday," Whelan said yesterday. "We will knot be putting him through any kind of a severe fitness test. There is no point in doing that and risking the possibility of aggravating the injury. That was why his training last weekend was restricted. We will know, and he will know, if he is fit, and the indications are that he will play."

The Wales A team includes 10 full internationals and two players new to A international honours.

The full internationals in the side are wing Simon Hill, centres Mark Taylor and Matthew Wintie, outside-half Adrian Davies, his partner Paul John, the entire front row of Chris Loader, Robin McBryde and Spencer John, and back row players Andrew Gibbs and Stuart Davies. The new A caps are full back Richard Jones and second row Paul Jones.

The five who come into the side who were not chosen against the Scots are Richard Jones, Adrian Davies, Paul Jones, Andrew Gibbs and Stuart Davies.

The Wales under 21 side to meet Ireland in Wicklow on Friday - a Triple Crown match for Ireland - includes two full internationals. They are centre Gareth Jones, who was capped against South Africa in Johannesburg in September, and flanker Craig Quinnell.

The Triple Crown will be at stake for both the Irish Universities and their Welsh counterparts when they meet at College Park on Friday.