PAUL BURKE, named as the Ireland replacement outhalf for the International Championship match against France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, will not be able to take his place on the bench because of a knee injury. Burke had to withdraw yesterday when the Ireland squad continued their preparation in Limerick under new coaching adviser Brian Ashton.
Burke's withdrawal is the culmination of what have been a few very disappointing days for him. He scored a record 24 points for Ireland against Italy last Saturday week but had been relegated to the replacements for the game against France with Eric Elwood restored to the outhalf position. He is the second replacement nominated for the match to withdraw. Prop Gary Halpin had to cry off on Sunday also because of a knee injury.
But filling those two positions on the bench is not the only disruption to Irish plans on a weekend when Ireland also play France at under-21 and A levels. Jim Staples, named at full back on the A team, was forced out because of a reaction last Saturday to a jaw injury he sustained in December. That problem was further compounded yesterday when Simon Mason, named in the A replacements and the logical choice to come in for Staples, was also ruled out. Mason is in Limerick with the squad, but has been hit by a glandular infection.
That leaves the selectors with no fewer than four places to fill. The reserve outhalf and prop berths on the senior side and the lull back and a replacement position on the A team. It is bound to mean a reshuffle of the forces and disruption to the A side.
It seems certain that the selectors will move David Humphreys, who has been chosen at outhalf on the A team, onto the bench for the senior match. In that event the outhalf position on the A team must be filled. The selectors can move Killian Keane, named in the centre on the A side to outhalf, where he has played for his club Garryowen and Munster this season. That could mean Brian Walsh, an A replacement, playing in the centre. He was on the A team that beat South Africa in November. The selectors had been anxious to see Keane in the centre, but that may have to wait for another day.
Staples' place at full back on the A side is likely to go to former international Ciaran Clarke. But that still leaves the replacement prop on the senior side and a replacement berth in the A team to be filled, indeed two replacement positions on the A side if Walsh is brought into the team.
The alternatives the selectors have to fill the berth vacated by Halpin is to take Paul Flavin or Angus McKeen out of the A team and bring in Henry Hurley who is an A team replacement. The selectors would be more likely to bring in Flavin, a loose head prop for Halpin, than McKeen. They could then move Hurley, also a loose head and A replacement into the A side, or name Hurley as the replacement in the senior side thus avoiding disruption to the A front row.
Ireland manager Pat Whelan said last night: "The withdrawals are unfortunate and obviously disruptive." Whelan will make an announcement about who will fill all the vacancies this morning. "I have to consult all the selectors and the manager and coach of the A side before we finalise the positions," he said.
Burke's withdrawal was expected. He was unable to do any training on Monday in Limerick and was deemed very doubtful, a view now substantiated by his withdrawal. Eric Miller, the senior side number eight and Anthony Foley, the A team number eight, who did not train on Monday, were able to participate yesterday when Ashton had his squad our for two separate two-hour sessions.
The squad will train in Limerick again today and the A side will assemble in Dublin tonight. The only A team players in Limerick are those who are contracted members of the Ireland squad. The French teams are due to be announced at lunchtime today.
