IRELAND PROP Paul Wallace, whose only appearance for the Lions in the three matches they have played on tour has been of 13 minutes duration when he came on as a replacement against Border last Wednesday, will make his first start when he plays against Mpumalanga (SE Transvaal) in Witbank tomorrow.
Wallace will have some very familiar company as the pack has a distinct Irish influence with Keith Wood and Jeremy Davidson also included in the team. The fourth Irishman in the party, Eric Miller was not considered because of a cheek injury. Miller had "something of a scare", as he put it himself, when he felt discomfort in his left cheek at the weekend
"I got a knock on it last Wednesday, but I did not think anything of it. But it then got numb and I decided to get it checked out and was sent for X-ray. It was then I started to worry and thought if it is a fractured cheekbone, that is me out of the tour almost as soon as it started.
"But the X-ray revealed only a crack in a small bone in the cheek. I have been assured that there is no problem. I could play on Wednesday, but have been told not to have any physical contact for a few days. I will be fit for consideration for the match against Northern Transvaal on Saturday."
Lions manager Fran Cotton endorsed that and said: "It is nothing to worry about. But we decided not to consider Eric for the match in Witbank and the medical advice is that he is not to have any physical contact for a few days".
Miller confined his activity yesterday to some running and watched what was a very vigorous training session, probably the toughest of the tour to date. "We warned the players in the morning that it was going to be tough and it was, said coach Ian McGeechan, "but the response was excellent."
The forwards engaged in 30 scrums on the machine, supervised by assistant coach Jim Telfer. The exhortations from one player to another were, to say the least, enlightening, with Keith Wood doing much of the talking. One could say of the language that it was at times "choice".
Tim Rodber will lead the team against Mpumalanga, the fourth different captain in four matches.
"The spirit in the squad is superb and we are all in this together. We know we will get a very hard physical match in Witbank and are prepared for it," said Rodber. He readily dismissed suggestions that there is a Wednesday team or, as they are referred to, `dirt trackers'.
"There are no dirt trackers here, just 35 players united in a common cause." Cotton supported that view. "We have played three matches and play five more before the first test. The next three matches represent a very severe challenge and all our players have everything to play for.
On the issue of the captaincy, Cotton said: "In 1989, Donal Lenihan did a superb job as captain of the unbeaten midweek team. But we have several outstanding leaders and experienced captains in this squad and we want to give players the honour of leading the Lions".
Wallace was delighted to be starting a match for the first time. "Although I came on as a replacement last Wednesday, somehow you do not feel as if you have really contributed until you play a match. I am eagerly looking forward to it. It is nice to have Woody and Jeremy in the side as well."
Wood is certainly enjoying the tour and is having no problem with his troublesome shoulders. "Everything is going very well," he said.
On his contribution, verbal and otherwise, to the session yesterday, he said with his roguish smile: "You have to gee the players up a bit". He certainly did that.
Davidson is also very pleased to be playing tomorrow. He came on as a replacement against Eastern Province and played against Border. "It is great to play and the whole training and preparation has been excellent. The tour is proving a tremendous experience for me."
One very significant selection is that of Neil Jenkins at out-half. He was chosen on the tour as a fullback, but is, of course, vastly experienced as an out-half. He will be partnered by Malt Dawson, who will be making his first appearance of the tour.
The departure of Paul Grayson does, of course, leave the side without one of the two out-halves chosen in that specific position. His replacement, Mike Call, will arrive here tomorrow.
Cotton admitted that England manager Jack Rowell was reluctant to release Call from the tour to Argentina until after next weekend. "But I explained to Jack that we needed him immediately. If we did not get him until next week it would mean he would not be available to us until the match against Natal on Saturday week and that is not satisfactory. I understand Jack's feelings, but he had to understand our position."
Cotton also dismissed "with total contempt" suggestions by the Western Province wing James Small that he was deliberately gouged in the eye by Lions wing John Bentley last Saturday.
Small's accusations have been given huge publicity here and his comments leave no room for doubt that he believes that Bentley did it deliberately. Small refused to shake hands with Bentley after the match.
"The allegation is scarcely worthy of comment. It is absolute nonsense, said Cotton. "It seems to me as if Small is trying to deflect attention away from the fact that he had a fairly average match on Saturday. We, or any player, will not be commenting further on this issue."
Rumours circulating here that Bentley would be cited by Western Province are completely without foundation and that was confirmed yesterday by Western Province officials.
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