Dejected Irish need to lift again

Dejected, tired, and bruised physically and mentally, the Ireland squad yesterday struggled to come to terms with defeat and the prospect of yet another match, Saturday's clash with Argentina to determine seventh and eighth place in the SANZAR Invitational Championship.

The legacy of losing to Wales was especially bitter for Lansdowne centre Shane Horgan whose misfortune in this tournament continued with the confirmation of a fractured bone in his right arm. "I don't know when it happened but it was quite early on and I had to come off, I couldn't tackle," Horgan said. The damage is likely to keep Horgan out for four weeks.

It proved a huge blow for Ireland, as he was easily the team's most accomplished performer, scoring a superb individual try and offering the most potent threat to the Welsh defence. He will be joined on the sidelines for the Argentina match by Garryowen out-half Jeremy Staunton whose leg injury, sustained against New Zealand, will keep him out for at least three weeks.

Ironically they are perhaps the lucky ones. The last thing this Irish squad needs is another match but they must lift themselves once again on Saturday. Coach Brian McLaughlin is likely to freshen up a jaded looking team by playing several fringe players - Paddy Wallace, Andrew Dunne, Aidan Kearney (injury permitting) and Paul Neville should make the starting line-up.

Blackrock College centre David Quinlan is also expected to return after crying off the Welsh game on the day of the match. The players will not train today and probably not tomorrow in a bid to offer some relief from what has been a gruelling schedule.

Ireland senior coach Warren Gatland returned to Dublin yesterday having watched Ireland's games against New Zealand and Wales. Heartened by several individual performances, he lamented the fact that this group of players had no immediate vehicle to compete at the level they had experienced during this tournament.

He suggested that the IRFU might look at including the national under-21 side in the inter-provincial championship. "If you look at the level these players are competing at here and what is available to them when they disperse on returning home, it is particularly disappointing," Gatland said. "I would like to see them compete in the inter-provincial championship and that is something at which the IRFU could look at.

"It would allow them to continue at a high level of competition. Not only would it benefit the players but it would be good for provincial coaches and national management." Gatland's point is well made and one which they IRFU are bound to consider. If the national under-21 side competed in the interpros it would offer a showcase for the best young talent in the country and allow the inter-provincial coaches to bolster their squad for European Cup matches later in the season.

Of more immediate concern to the IRFU is the suggestion that this tournament will no longer continue in its present format. New Zealand has reputedly offered to host an under-21 tournament next season but no invitations will be extended to Northern Hemisphere countries. Japan, Western Samoa and Fiji have been touted as probable replacement for the Five Nations teams.

Intervention by the International Board seems the only hope for Ireland, England, Wales and France. They are hoping that rugby union's governing body will take over from the present organisers, SANZAR, and offer a permanent structure with a tournament alternating between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

This age group offers a perfect bridging format between the FIRA Under-19 World Cup and senior international rugby: the onus now firmly lies on the International Board.

Returning to the present tournament, Saturday brings all eight teams together at the same venue to determine the final standings. Tuesday night's action was certainly not without incident. France had three players sent off - two for punching, one for kicking - in their 48-11 defeat by South Africa. The South African were themselves fortunate to escape censure in an encounter that flared up in the second half.

Irish referee David Tyndall officiated at the other semi-final in which New Zealand edged past the defending champions Australia. The Aussies led 25-24 in injury time in the second half but two late converted tries saw the New Zealand Colts prevail 38-25. They now meet South Africa in the final with France facing Australia for third and fourth places.

England defeated Argentina 45-35 and meet Wales, with Ireland and Argentina battling to avoid the ignominy of finishing last.