14 into nine does not go to France

Rugby/ World Cup countdown: Gerry Thornleyon the major dilemma for Eddie O'Sullivan as he finalises his squad: picking nine backrowers from 14.

They probably spend more time with each other than they do with their families or loved ones. In most cases they're mates as well as room-mates and team-mates. Yet some of them are acutely aware they are drinking at the last chance saloon this week, and as rivals for one of the biggest events of their sporting lives.

From the outside, it seems a brutal process but it's the way it has to be and at least it keeps players on their toes for as long as possible while also maintaining familiarity with the methods of team Ireland beyond the chosen 30 in the event of injury.

Nonetheless, the pressure to perform on those competing for the last few slots will be intense come Saturday's final "trial" against Scotland in Murrayfield. The following morning, they'll be informed whether they've made the cut or not.

Not much has changed since the summer tour, with coach Eddie O'Sullivan having confirmed the impression then that he'll favour a 16-14 split between forwards and backs. Akin to New Zealand and South Africa, though contrary to the 17-13 split favoured by Ireland's group rivals France and Argentina, this offers more cover in the outside backs but, with the necessity to pick three specialist hookers and scrumhalves, places greater strain on the back five of the pack, where Ireland could easily have played to one of their strengths and picked six backrowers.

With only 15 backs among the 37-man squad called back into camp this week, the last place looks like a straight duel between Munster's rugby league convert Brian Carney and Tommy Bowe. The odds will have leaned even more heavily in Carney's favour if Bowe's Achilles strain prevents him playing against the Scots when the team is confirmed today.

That leaves the major bone of contention, namely the back five of the pack, where O'Sullivan has retained a half-dozen nominal locks and eight backrowers; ie 14 players competing for nine places. This can probably be narrowed down to two from Mick O'Driscoll, Trevor Hogan, Leo Cullen, Alan Quinlan, Keith Gleeson, Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip.

Quinlan, like Duffy, regained much of his lost ground in Argentina and one senses O'Sullivan would dearly like to accommodate a player who injured himself in saving Ireland's bacon with the crucial try against Argentina four years ago and who since then has had little or no luck with injuries and a suspension.

A good tourist, Quinlan would bring experience and that Munster "dog" to the equation, but unless he usurps Neil Best, his only way of boarding the flight to Bordeaux on September 3rd would be as a utility backrower cum fourth-choice lock.

Unless O'Sullivan regards Donncha O'Callaghan as an emergency backrower, which could in turn leave the door more ajar for Hogan or Cullen, the likeliest utility man for the back five would be O'Driscoll. In any event, O'Driscoll has done the maths; 14 into nine doesn't go.

"It's just the way things have been in Ireland for a while. I don't really know why there are so many secondrows and backrows; I wish there weren't to be honest. You just have to do what you can in training and hope for the best. But there's some serious competition there and whoever loses out is going to be very disappointed. Unfortunately that's the way it is, that's the reality of it."

By constantly rotating, O'Sullivan has kept his players guessing as much as those on the outside. "I'd like to get a chance," admitted O'Driscoll. "If I take it, well and good. At least it's in my own hands if I do get a chance.

"It's a little added pressure but if you want to go to the World Cup and you get your chance, you've got to take it. If you don't, you don't go to the World Cup. It's as simple as that."

More so than other team sports, the dynamic of rugby does not tend to reward glory hunting in these scenarios and O'Driscoll contends that this applies to training also. "Whatever team you're put with in training you have to work with that team or that group of lads. Whether you're with the guys from your own province or another province or club, it doesn't matter, you just work with that group of individuals you're with at the time. You have to do that, otherwise you're not going to get an opportunity."

With each session videoed, there is plenty of feedback from the coaching staff. It all adds to the intensity in training, because as O'Driscoll adds: "At this level, everyone here expects to go to the World Cup, that's the way you have to be because if you're not like that you're only wasting your time being here. Particularly this week, the fact that the squad is being announced on Sunday it means it's literally a last opportunity to show up for a World Cup spot, so I suppose it does make it more intense. But at this level it's going to be intense anyway."

None of those nursing knocks, such as Ronan O'Gara and Gordon D'Arcy, are likely to be risked, which probably means Paddy Wallace and Gavin Duffy will be named at 10 and 12 today in a relatively unfamiliar and inexperienced line-up.

Four years ago, Simon Easterby was one of those who toured Australia, Tonga and Samoa. "I really enjoyed that tour and for me and a lot of guys on that tour it was all about working my way into the World Cup squad. Sometimes guys need games but physically, I feel great now and I think all the guys do, even the ones who went on tour."

In the circumstances, it must be a comforting feeling to be one of the chosen XV who were excused duty from the Argentina tour and therefore assured of selection come Sunday. "Until you hear your name read out on Sunday," maintained Easterby, "you can't take anything for granted."