Woods in from wilderness

Fate? Only time will tell whether it was ordained, but, in an ironic twist to the original selection of the Irish team to play Wales, demands for the inclusion of the London Irish flyer Niall Woods were satisfied yesterday when he was called in to replace the injured Girvan Dempsey at Wembley on Saturday.

The Terenure winger injured his hip during their defeat to Cork Constitution last weekend, and though he trained on Tuesday, Dempsey suffered a reaction overnight.

The knock-on effect sees Bedford's Darragh O'Mahony recalled to the A team in place of the promoted Woods.

Jeremy Davidson had a scan yesterday on a troublesome thigh strain, which has limited his contact work in training, but the management remain confident the Castres lock will be fit to play.

Meanwhile, the back-row casualty list - which already includes Trevor Brennan, Eddie Halvey and Kieron Dawson - escalated yesterday when David Corkery's back injury obliged him to withdraw from tomorrow's A game in Ebbw Vale. Corkery is replaced by David Wallace, and with Tony McWhirter also ruled out through injury, Simon Easterby of Leeds has been added to the Irish A replacements' bench.

The news will still have been a blow for Dempsey, and standing in the bitterly cold Westmanstown air watching yesterday's squad session can't have warmed his heart.

Like anyone in this squad, Dempsey knows it can be even harder to get back in than it is to get dropped. For Woods, therefore, this is a huge opportunity. albeit an unexpected one after three years in the wilderness since the last of his seven caps against England. There were times, during that spell, when the thought of Woods becoming Ireland's next left winger seemed as likely as a left winger becoming the next Taoiseach.

It wasn't that anyone doubted his attacking talent - he's a world class finisher given any time or space - more his defensive frailties; and it just so happened that the few opportunities which came his way, also came at times when he was either mentally jaded (the Development tour) or out of form (the Irish A v South Africa game in December).

Suddenly, opportunity knocks. "Yeah, I'm pleased to get it," he says. "It was a bit of a surprise to be called in at this late notice. I'm very disappointed for Girvan, but in sport these things happen and I've got to take my opportunity. To be playing at Wembley, which would be any soccer kid's dream, is a bonus."

At a stroke, Woods provides a left-footed place-kicking alternative to David Humphreys. Warren Gatland emphasised that the management have total faith in Humphreys' place-kicking, and that he will remain first choice kicker. Given that Humphreys is striking the ball very well in training, and, as Gatland put it, "has a chance to shove it up some of the media", it is expected that Humphreys will willingly retain this responsibility.

Nevertheless, it ought to be some comfort to Humphreys that there is a place-kicking option in the starting XV, as opposed to the only one being on the bench.

Neither Gatland nor Donal Lenihan were inclined to have the sirens blaring and the guns blazing over Woods' return - primarily for Woods' own benefit. The coach said simply that Woods' "attacking abilities are very good and the fact that there is a good combination between the back three is a positive thing".

Lenihan cut something of a paternal figure in his protective presence near Woods, and reluctantly satisfied media demands for the London Irish winger by permitting one quick general interview. Woods is a smooth customer though, and gave every answer a straight bat.

"I'm playing in a winning team and I'm happy with my form," he said, and acknowledged that being part of an all-London Irish outside three will be a help. "But again, I'm just looking forward to the game. It's been hard work trying to get back in, but that's only half the battle. The other half is playing well now when I get back in."

Having scored his one international try in a win over Wales, Woods is hoping "to repeat that". He admitted that this is "almost like getting my first cap".

In a tight-knit squad, Woods is something of a blow-in under Gatland, as was evidenced by the need to get a loan of physio Willie Bennett's jersey for yesterday's practice session. With just two A outings behind him, Woods admits he has some cramming to do with regard to learning the various calls.

But he's respected amongst his peers for the classy points scorer that he is, he has a big game temperament, and will surely revel in playing in tandem with Conor O'Shea and Justin Bishop, not to mention another former London Irish sidekick in Humphreys. Maybe it was meant to be.