Ireland up to sixth in rankings

RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP:IRELAND HAVE moved up one place to sixth in the official IRB world rankings following Sunday's victory over Italy in Rome, swapping places with England after Martin Johnson's team were beaten by Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

The fact that the English travel to Croke Park in the next round of Six Nations Championship fixtures to take on their usurpers on Saturday, February 28th, will lend even more spice to a fixture that rarely requires any seasoning.

Ireland and England were the only movers in the top 10 of the world rankings but France, by virtue of their win over Scotland, are closing in on seventh place, now less than half a point behind the English. Ireland trail Argentina (fifth) by over a point. A victory on Saturday week at Croke Park would push them further ahead of their closest pursuers and opponents that day, England.

The Irish squad and management arrived home from Rome yesterday lunch-time nursing the usual quota of bumps and bruises against the ultra-physical Italians.

The most pressing concern surrounds Paddy Wallace whose left eye was virtually closed following a collision that saw him replaced during the first half of the game at Stadio Flaminio.

Peter Stringer was initially sprung from the bench – Ronan O’Gara was in the sinbin at the time – allowing Tomás O’Leary to shift to outhalf as a temporary measure. Wallace’s was deemed to be a blood injury but at half-time the swelling around his eye impaired his vision to such an extent that he was replaced by Gordon D’Arcy.

It marks an unhappy sequence of injuries for the Ulster centre as the previous weekend against France, he had 16 stitches inserted in a head wound. This in itself had come on top of a relatively recent visit to a neurosurgeon after a number of bangs to the head in consecutive matches for his province. He was given the all-clear by the surgeon and can only rue what has become a most unfortunate sequence of events at a time when he is playing some of the best rugby of his senior career.

A spokesperson for the squad confirmed none of the bruising sustained in Rome was deemed to be serious and that a further assessment would be made when the squad convene in Cork tomorrow for a two-day training camp.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will make a decision on which members of the squad will be released to play for their provinces in this weekend’s Magners League fare. Table toppers Munster host Edinburgh on Saturday while Leinster travel to take on the Scarlets in Wales on the same day.

On Sunday Connacht and Ulster will face the Ospreys and the Dragons respectively.

* The Irish team doctor Dr Gary O’Driscoll completed his last game with Ireland in Rome over the weekend after six years, as he is taking up an offer to work as team doctor with Arsenal. He will be on duty at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday when Arsene Wenger’s team host Sunderland.

The popular and highly regarded O’Driscoll, son of former Irish fullback Barry and cousin of Irish captain Brian, will be universally missed within the squad. Dr Michael Webb, who has worked with Ulster, and Dr Jim McShane (Leinster) will take his place.

IRB world rankings

1 (1) New Zealand 92.68pts

2 (2) South Africa 89.45

3 (3) Australia 85.86

4 (4) Wales 82.51

5 (5) Argentina 81.56

6 (7) IRELAND 80.49

7 (6) England 80.37

8 (8) France 79.10

9 (9) Scotland 75.47

10 (10) Fiji 75.24

Previous ranking in brackets