Wood return brings sense of completeness

RUGBY/International news: Keith Wood and Brian O'Driscoll will head the list of heavy hitters who return to the Irish squad for the first of three World Cup warm-up games against Wales at Lansdowne Road next Saturday (August 16th).

The likelihood is that Wood will reinherit the captaincy from O'Driscoll for what will be his first home game since the 40-29 defeat to New Zealand at the same venue in November 2001.

That game constituted Warren Gatland's last in charge, though remarkably, such have been Wood's injury problems in the intervening 20 months that he has played in only four of Eddie O'Sullivan's 21 games in charge to date. (As an aside, O'Sullivan's win-draw-loss record is 15-0-6.)

The coach admits it was a psychologically important boost to the squad that they could embark upon a record-breaking ten-game winning run without Wood - whose last appearance for Ireland was in the second of those games away to Russia. A leaking disc in Wood's neck was exacerbated by the long flight home from Siberia after that game, since when he has had seven shoulder operations.

Yet throughout it all O'Driscoll repeatedly maintained he was only keeping the seat warm for Wood, whose return has been warmly received by O'Sullivan.

"When he's not in the squad, there's certainly something missing there. I suppose the fact that he wasn't there in the last year gone by was a big ask of the squad to get by without him, which they did, and that was a good thing. But certainly, having him back now is an added bonus."

O'Sullivan is optimistic that a recuperated and refreshed Wood will be as good as ever, and the ebullient bald wonder wouldn't countenance anything less. "It's been an awfully long time. But I never had much doubt that I would be able to play again. It's fantastic being back. I'm getting a great kick out of it. Who'd have thought we'd be in Athlone, getting ready for a new season, in balmy tropical sunshine? It's fantastic. I'm having a great time."

Wood and O'Driscoll are among 13 changes from the 22 on duty in Ireland's highly creditable 40-14 win over Samoa in a baking hot Apia Park only six weeks ago. Such is the length of close-seasons nowadays.

Another returning from a lengthy, injury-enforced absence is Shane Horgan, who last played for Ireland against Scotland in the Six Nations opener last February. Also back in the fold are Geordan Murphy, Kevin Maggs, David Humphreys, Peter Stringer, Malcolm O'Kelly, Victor Costello, Keith Gleeson and Anthony Foley.

Ronan O'Gara, Neil Doak and James Topping have been ruled out by injuries, while ongoing concerns about John Hayes's groin injury have been compounded by Marcus Horan's ankle problem. With Emmet Byrne's neck and shoulder problems keeping him out of the 40-man squad in camp this past week in Athlone, it has left O'Sullivan with only three test-capped props still standing: Reggie Corrigan, Justin Fitzpatrick and Simon Best, who won his first cap in June against Tonga.

Martin Cahill has therefore been called up for training next week, along with seven other members of the 40-man squad who, like the remaining eight not involved, will get their chances in the subsequent warm-up games against Italy at Thomond Park on August 30th and Scotland in Murrayfield on September 6th.

The team and replacements for the Welsh game will be announced next Tuesday at the CityWest Hotel after an open training session at Cill Dara rugby club, Kildare, from 11 a.m. to noon. Upwards of 15,000 tickets have been purchased for the game and the IRFU are hopeful this will rise to at least 25,000 come Saturday week.

Welsh coach Steve Hansen has named a decidedly curious-looking, experimental and youthful side, with two uncapped players in the starting line-up and a further four on the bench.

While O'Sullivan is taking a slightly experimental approach to these preparatory games and admits he is in no rush to finalise his squad of 30, you sense he has a fair idea of what his ideal starting line-up would be, allowing for form and fitness.

Not so Hansen. The Wales under-21 outhalf Nicky Robinson will make his full Test debut at full back while new Gwent back-rower English-born Rhys Oakley will start for his adopted nation at blindside flanker. The four other uncapped players are all current or former under-21 caps and figure among the replacements - Neath-Swansea hooker Huw Bennett, Cardiff flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor, Neath-Swansea scrumhalf Andy Williams and Gwent utility back Nathan Brew.

In the absence of incumbent captain Martyn Williams, and with Hansen also resting three of Williams's predecessors - Stephen Jones, Colin Charvis and Robyn McBryde - Gareth Thomas will become the 119th Wales captain. With the likes of Robert Sidoli, Gefin Jenkins and Gareth Cooper also rested, Hansen clearly has one eye on their rendezvous with England at the Millennium Stadium a week later. That begins a schedule of three home games in eight days, including Romania and Scotland.

"The first thing we have got to do before we can go to the World Cup is reduce our squad to 30 players. The August matches are ideal for us to look at every candidate and give them the chance to show us what they can do," said Hansen.

"We simply can't play our best side in four successive games in a two-week period, especially when our major focus is being at our peak at the World Cup and not in August for these friendly games."

Ticket packages for the Ireland-Wales game can be purchased over the IRFU website. Stand tickets are €30 each or two for €40. Terrace tickets are €15 each or two for €20. Tickets can be had by logging on to www.irishrugby.ie

IRELAND SQUAD

Forwards: S Best (Ulster), S Byrne (Leinster), R Corrigan (Leinster), V Costello (Leinster), J Fitzpatrick (Castres), A Foley (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster), K Wood.

Backs: P Burke (Harlequins), G Dempsey (Leinster), G Easterby (Rotherham), A Horgan (Munster), S Horgan (Leinster), D Humphreys (Ulster), K Maggs (Bath), G Murphy (Leicester), B O'Driscoll (Leinster), P Stringer (Munster).

Not considered because of injury: E Byrne (Leinster), N Doak (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), M Horan (Munster), R O'Gara (Munster), J Topping (Ulster).

WALES

N Robinson (Cardiff); G Evans (Llanelli), J Robinson (Cardiff), I Harris (Cardiff), G Thomas (Celtic Warriors, capt); C Sweeney (Celtic Warriors), D Peel (Llanelli); D Jones (Neath-Swansea), M Davies (Celtic Warriors), B Evans (Cardiff), M Owen (Gwent), G Llewellyn (Neath-Swansea), R Oakley (Gwent), R Parks (Celtic Warriors), A Popham (Leeds). Replacements: H Bennett (Neath-Swansea), G Jenkins (Celtic Warriors), V Cooper (Llanelli), R Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff), A Williams (Neath-Swansea), A Marinos (Gwent), N Brew (Gwent).