Final chance for Irish redemption

The dirt trackers kiss South African dirt for the last time en bloc when they take on the weakest of the tour opponents, North West Districts, in Potchefstroom this afternoon at 5.15 local time (4.15 Irish time). Collectively - and in several cases individually - this is a final chance for redemption.

The 27-20 defeat to South West Districts was excusable to a degree, less so last week's 52-13 mauling at the hands of Griquas. Admittedly Griquas provided the toughest game of the tour outside of the Tests; Ireland has usually struggled to cobble together one decent representative side, never mind two, while this was always going to be an international blooding for several of the uncapped players on this tour.

Hence, for the likes of late callup Des Clohessy and fellow prop John Hayes (whose presence in the starting line-up means every player has begun a game) judgement on their international credentials can be suspended to a degree.

Not so some of the internationals in this midweek side, who have had disappointing tours thus far and should be itching for a chance to finish on a high. Injuries have played a part, but into this category fall Ciaran Clarke (handicapped by an Achilles' tendon injury before arrival), Richie Wallace, by his own admission a long way short of his own personal targets, Killian Keane (heretofore relatively anonymous and then undistinguished when switching to out-half against Griquas) and the forever enigmatic David Humphreys.

Mixed against South West and very good against Western Province (especially in defence), Humphreys was frustratingly ineffectual and defensively porous against Griquas when waving through his opposite number Herman Bosman for the opening try.

His inability to execute the "Elwood flick" in training yesterday and hence his unwillingness to try it in matches so far, along with a reluctance to gamble on shorter restarts, betrays the current lack of self-belief which this mood player depends on. However, he's such a talent that you'd love to see him having a good one.

Inside him, Brian O'Meara remains a bit of an enigma as well. Granted, he's been limited to just the one start, against South West, but you'd like to see more from him. Injuries have also limited David Corkery and Mick Galwey to one undistinguished start each, and so they will also be striving for big climaxes to what have been anti-climactic tours so far.

Galwey has the added spur of being named captain today, in light of Anthony Foley breaking down during training with the Achilles' tendon strain which has prevented him from completing his two tour games to date - thereby maintaining a curious curse on Irish captains this past year. Even allowing for tactical substitutions, over the course of seven full internationals and five tour games, the captain has failed to complete the 80 minutes on eight occasions (Keith Wood four times, Foley twice, Nick Popplewell once and Paddy Johns once).

Andy Ward and Victor Costello have been added to the replacements' bench, with the Irish management keen to preserve some of the more over-worked members of the Test squad, particularly the second-rows.

Trevor Brennan has been nominated as the number eight in Foley's absence, a tough task for someone who has little or no experience of the role and in so far as one can recall has never slotted into the position even in training. Ireland do have the option of using David Wallace at number eight off the base of the scrum, where he was prolific for Garryowen last season. Here again, though, Wallace's two tour starts have passed him by, the talented youngest brother of three looking too slow to be a genuine tearaway.

And then there's Dennis Hickie, more on trial today than anyone.

A recuperative performance would cement his Test place, though given another poor outing it is not inconceivable that Richie Wallace could re-assert his claims. Switching Kevin Maggs back to left-wing and bringing Rob Henderson in to centre seems an even more remote Option C.

Individually, the players must also be mindful that the Irish management intend naming a preliminary World Cup squad in August. Allowing for extenuating circumstances then, quite a few reputations are on the line to varying degrees today; as is the midweek team generally.

Giving the same time to the dirt trackers is virtually impossible, but perhaps the management took their eye off the ball so to speak, primarily against Griquas in the week of the first Test.

Privately, the Irish management must be disappointed with some of the contributions from the more established players, but publicly Gatland declined to admit that the midweek performances have been disappointing so far.

"No, not really. We've only had two matches. The first match we blew against South West Districts and we were well beaten by a very good Griquas team. So I think they've got a very good opportunity tomorrow to make amends, and I think it's important not only for themselves, but for the squad that we get a win.

"There are a number of players out there who need a bit of confidence and bit of self-belief and perhaps a bit of arrogance about their own ability which a win would help to give them."

They should get one. North West finished last of the 14 provinces in last year's Currie Cup and also propped up their Vodacom Cup group recently, winning just one match in 12. Their Union is somewhat old style, the Potch University and local army base have been halved in numbers over recent years and most of their unheralded squad are drawn from the vast surrounding farming community.

True, not even rival South African teams revel in the thought of visiting the compact Olen Park, withits hard surface and physical pack, but at some point Ireland ought to reveal some class and make it tell.

Ireland: C Clarke; R Wallace, K Keane, R Henderson, D Hickie; D Humphreys, B O'Meara; D Clohessy, A Clarke, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), G Fulcher, D Corkery, T Brennan, D Wallace. Replacements: C O'Shea, K Maggs, D Hegarty, P Clohessy, B Jackman, A Ward, V Costello.

North West Districts: E Bouwer; J van den Bergh, AJ de Jager, T Joubert, JB van den Bergh; AC Prinsloo, B Hotze; H Human, D de Waal, S van Wyk, K Tromp, W lessing, K Dreyer, B pool, M van Greunen (capt).