A season with much at stake for Irish players

WHEN Ireland run out against Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday it will be their third home international in just two months.

It follows the matches against Western Samoa and Australia. Such a programme, allied to the squad weekends and the winter warm weather training, certainly represents an intensive enough build up for the forthcoming International Championship.

There was a time when it was deemed an advantage to have even one international prior to the championship. However, like much else in the game all that has now changed. The more frequent visits to these islands from the big powers in the Southern Hemisphere has extended the international calendar and then of course visits from such as Italy, Western Samoa, Argentina, Fiji, USA, Canada and Romania have widened the scope still further.

But one is left to wonder if the situation is not reaching saturation point and if international rugby will continue to have the appeal it had in the past. There is some evidence to suggest that the public may be getting too much. It was very significant that so many seats were empty at Twickenham a few weeks back when England played Argentina. Time was, and not so long ago either, that getting a ticket for an international in Cardiff represented something of a major achievement. That alas is no longer the case. The World champions, South Africa, failed to fill the National Stadium a few weeks ago and so did Australia. There is surely a lesson there for the various rugby unions.

But in the midst of all the changes and the more frequent visits from the Southern Hemisphere, there is no danger that at any of the grounds in this country, England, Scotland, Wales or France will have an empty space for the Five Nations Championship.

Certainly all the participating nations have had an intensive build up and such have been the results that none of them will in any way be complacent. All have been beaten since the start of the season. France by South Africa, twice, England by the New Zealand Barbarians, Wales by South Africa and Australia, Scotland by Australia and Ireland by Western Samoa and Australia.

There is a common denominator between the four home countries and that is Italy. The Italians have met Wales, in Rome in October, England, in Twickenham in November, and Scotland at Murrayfield just over a fortnight ago. Now it is Ireland's turn and that is a match that Ireland need to win.

The Italians were the victims of two very bad refereeing decisions against the Welsh and they cost them the match. They were very unlucky, too, against Scotland but lost to England by a wide margin as England hit the 50 points mark.

That was a depleted Italian team, short, in particular, their two second row forwards and England exploited that weakness. It might be worth remembering, too, that when Wales met Italy in Cardiff last January, they pushed Wales all the way before losing 31-26.

The Italians see the match against Ireland as an opportunity to strengthen their prospects of getting into the Five Nations Championship, a much cherished ambition that they believe would be further strengthened were they to win on Saturday following their good displays against Wales and Scotland.

Ireland's manager, Pat Whelan, makes it hat point very strenuously. "It is a match of crucial importance to us and from the Italian perspective they see it as a chance to enhance their Five Nations prospects. We certainly do not want to go into the championship on the back of three defeats. That makes it harder for us to make an impact in the championship."

WHELAN also readily admits that a defeat on Saturday would also make team selection that much more difficult for the match against France, Ireland's first championship engagement at Lansdowne Road on January 18th. Home advantage in four successive matches this season should have been very much to Ireland's advantage. But it a case of two down and two to go. Lansdowne Road is no longer the fortress it was once considered by vi siting teams.

The Welsh were once deemed invulnerable in Cardiff, but recent results on home soil have been very poor for both countries.

A win, rather than the manner it is attained, is the primary requirement for Ireland on Saturday and it could prove difficult enough to attain against the Italians. It would be nice to win and do so with some style but victory is the imperative and would build some confidence for the tasks immediately ahead. But if Ireland should lose then the consequences could be immense. Furthermore it always more difficult to bring new players into a losing team than to build from a winning base.

This Irish side needs to string a few wins together and then progress from that point. Nor are there any indications that Ireland has a back line right now that could be described as being a potent attacking force, especially without Simon Geoghegan, who is a huge loss. That is what has made the case for the return of Eric Elwood at outside half more compelling.

This will be Ireland's third match against Italy. The first was on December 31st, 1988, in Dublin, and Ireland won that 31-15. The second, was in Treviso in May 1995 which the Italians deserved to win 22-12. Treviso, who will be strongly represented in the Italian team, also defeated Leinster early this season.

The match on Saturday and the performances given by the Ireland players individually and by the team will obviously have a big bearing on the composition of the team to meet France and by extension the championship.

There are two other factors too. There is the question of contract renewal and that is a matter currently exercising the minds of the IRFU. There is not a shred of doubt that some of the current Ireland squad will be extremely fortunate to have their contracts renewed in the top tier. Nor is there any doubt that some of those Ireland players now in England will be making the return trip at the end of the season.

This is also a Lions tour season with the Lions going to South Africa in May. Those Ireland players with designs on making that trip will have to earn selection over the coming months. On recent evidence Irish representation would not be strong. The incentive is there then in so many respects for the Ireland players to produce the quality performances that will get their due rewards.