Exile not too happy at being exiled

Interview with Bob Casey: When Bob Casey packed his bags for London Irish in 2002 the message from the IRFU was crystal clear.

If there was a 50-50 call to be made with a home-based player, the big Kildare man would lose out. Nobody said anything about the 70-30 decisions going against him.

Despite playing the best rugby of his career, in Eddie O'Sullivan's eyes he is, at best, eighth in the current pecking order of Irish locks. Mick O'Driscoll and Trevor Hogan may be Munster reserves yet both were called into camp ahead of a player who lines out every week in the Guinness Premiership. Playing in England is not a legitimate excuse either as Johnny O'Connor, Geordan Murphy, Shane Byrne and Leo Cullen all start against Romania on Saturday.

"Maybe there is a perception that I am the same player who played against England in 2000 but I'm not," said a disappointed Casey this week.

His last start for Ireland was that 50-18 trouncing at Twickenham five years ago when 15 minutes in he injured his ankle. He soldiered on until half-time before being replaced by Mick Galwey. The defeat was a watershed in Irish rugby as it forced Warren Gatland to perform major surgery on team selection. Despite touring North America that summer, and winning two more caps from the bench, Casey was out.

There had been better moments in green, like stealing a lineout off Australian captain John Eales during the 1999 World Cup just seconds after making his debut as a temporary replacement for Malcolm O'Kelly.

O'Sullivan has not been to the Madjeski Stadium but like all players abroad, match tapes are sent to the IRFU statistical analyst Mervyn Murphy.

"I spoke to Eddie O'Sullivan a few times at the start of this season and he said I wasn't far off and even told me about a few areas I can improve my game. In particular, he talked about ball carrying and to pump my legs more in the tackle so I went back and improved this area. I feel I have done what was asked. Also, while my quantity of work was never in doubt, I have also improved my quality as well. I'm playing better than I've ever played before."

Casey's exile was further highlighted when the touring squad to Japan was announced last summer. With the three front-line locks on Lions duty, Cullen was an immediate selection but having partnered Matt McCullough in the A international against France the previous March, Casey seemed certain to travel. Instead, Trevor Hogan got the nod and, along with McCullough, received his first cap.

"Missing Japan was a real killer. It's been unbelievably frustrating to see so many guys ahead of me. I was gutted again this week when I heard Matt McCullough was injured and, of course Mal as well, but still didn't get the call to training."

Despite assurances that selection is based purely on form, a return home will immediately enhance chances of a recall. See Mick O'Driscoll's selection on the Irish bench this Saturday only months after returning from Perpignan.

"Playing for Ireland would be the main reason to come back but I got to weigh up my future career options. My contract is up at the end of the season and if I was to return it would only be to Leinster - I would never play for Munster, Ulster or Connacht. Things have changed since I last played at home but I will have to make a decision by the end of January."

Tentative contact has been made by the IRFU, along with several soundings from other English clubs all via his agent, Charles Mountfield. France is not a consideration, while London Irish clearly wish to keep hold of the 27-year-old having refused an offer from Gloucester last season.

The arrival of former Australian and Irish international Brian Smith as director of rugby, along with forwards coach Toby Booth, breathed new life into the club with Casey recently handed the captaincy when Mike Catt was injured.

His continued exclusion was put to O'Sullivan at Tuesday's press conference and the Irish coach said he is still in the "hopper" for selection. This is a piece of farming machinery that separates the wheat from the chaff. Seeing him in the flesh would go a long way to getting him out of the hopper and back on the international scene.