Costello in fitness race

RUGBY: Victor Costello's fitness for Ireland's penultimate game in the RBS Six Nations Championship against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday has been thrown into doubt after Eric Miller was added to the squad yesterday as cover for Costello, who has a calf injury. Miller's call-up came with the customary official wording "as a precaution", which on previous form usually means the injured player concerned is out.

Similarly, Donnacha O'Callaghan has been promoted from the A squad to train with the senior squad this week "as a precaution" to cover for Gary Longwell, although the prognosis on the latter's hamstring injury would seem to be more encouraging. In any event, the expectation is Longwell and Costello will be named in the Irish team when it is announced today.

The situation regarding Girvan Dempsey is a unclear, with the full back's groin problem still being assessed.

Despite David Humphreys's mixed bag of a performance against France, over the three games he has deputised for O'Gara, he has generally performed well and prolifically, and the Irish management have been consistent in retaining players in a winning side. Hence, injuries permitting, the team might well be unchanged again.

As an aside, with regard to speculation on the issue of his approach from the Miami Dolphins, O'Gara issued a statement yesterday: "While acknowledging an informal conversation with an agent representing the Miami Dolphins, I would like to categorically state my commitment to Irish rugby for the remainder of my contract, to the end of the Six Nations championship, 2004. In the meantime, I am calling a formal closure on the issue and ask for understanding in that regard."

Meanwhile, Wales will reveal their starting line-up and replacements tomorrow. Hooker Jonathan Humphreys has indicated he is "100 per cent confident" of being fit to return for Saturday's game after recovering from the shoulder injury which ruled him out of the defeat to Scotland last Saturday week.

In attempts to buttress their pack with more experience and bulk, the possibility is lock Gareth Llewellyn and back-rower Colin Charvis might be recalled in place of Steve Williams and Gavin Thomas. The hitherto disappointing Ben Evans could also lose out to his second-half replacement in Murrayfield, Gethin Jenkins, or a more specialised tighthead such as Marty Madden or Adam Jones.

With full back Kevin Morgan also ruled out, Rhys Williams is expected to revert to full back, with Craig Morgan or Mark Jones coming in on the wing.