THE selection of the Ireland team to meet Wales in Cardiff next Saturday takes place tonight. The team will be announced tomorrow morning. Two of the four Ireland selectors will be in England today, while coaching adviser Brian Ashton, not as yet an official member of the committee, but certain to have a profound influence on the composition of the team, will also be in England watching Harlequins play Rotherham.

Manager Pat Whelan will be in London to see Newcastle play London Scottish - Nick Popplewell and hooker Ross Nesdale will be in action in that match - while Donal Lenihan will be watching Northampton play Coventry - with Jonathan Bell and Allan Clarke under observation.

The performance of Coventry hooker David Addleton could also be of interest to Lenihan. Addleton is a former London Irish player who played for the Exiles for two seasons in the Interprovincial Championship.

Ashton will be keeping a special watch on the performance of Jim Staples. If the selectors have other players in mind - players who have Irish qualifications and are also playing in those matches - they are not saying. But as past experience illustrates, you never know.

On the domestic front, the fifth series of matches in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League take place today and the league leadership in all four divisions could change hands this afternoon.

The national selectors will watch two of the matches with selection for both championship and A sides in mind. Frank Sowman will be at Tom Clifford Park to see the first division leaders, St Mary's, play Young Munster. Good performances from players such as Denis Hickie and Victor Costello, now back in the St Mary's fold from London Irish, could be rewarded. St Mary's lead the division by one point from a cluster of five clubs, all just one point back.

Defending champions Shannon are one of the clubs a point adrift of the leaders. They play Ballymena at Eaton Park and selector Joe Miles will be at this match. James Topping, Eddie Halvey, Anthony Foley and Mick Galwey are all playing in this one, and another who could be under observation is Ballymena hooker Stephen Ritchie. With Keith Wood ruled out, Richie could be a contender for the A team.

Lansdowne, Terenure College, Garryowen and Blackrock College, like Shannon all just one point adrift of St Mary's, will be seeking to enhance their prospects. In contrast, Instonians, who visit Garryowen, are still seeking their initial points. So, too, are Old Crescent, who meet Old Wesley, who like Young Munster have only two points.

Two of the clubs in immediate pursuit of the leaders, Blackrock and Terenure, meet at Stradbrook, while Lansdowne take on Cork Constitution, who have five points, at Lansdowne Road. Old Belvedere and Dungannon, with two and four points respectively, also meet.

Second division leaders Dolphin will be at home to promotion challengers Bective Rangers at Musgrave Park today in what promises to be match of the day in the division. Clontarf will be at home to bottom of the table NIFC.

Skerries, who are also only a point adrift of the leaders, will be at home to Highfield. Wanderers and DLSP are not engaged and will play their match in midweek. Monkstown and UCC meet at Sydney Parade and Malone will be at home to City of Derry.

Galwegians will consolidate their place at the top of the third division if they beat Bangor. Bohemians will be at home to Buccaneers. UCD travel to Collegians and Corinthians will be at home to Waterpark in a bottom of table clash. Portadown meet Trinity.

In Division Four, Ballynahinch will be at home to UCG, who are one of three clubs still without a point. Suttonians will be at home to Ballina, and Ards travel to meet Creggs. CIYMS will have home advantage against Sligo and Richmond visit Armagh.