Popplewell captain as Wood withdraws

Not unexpectedly, Ireland have suffered a significant setback in the build-up to Sunday's international against Canada at Lansdowne Road with the withdrawal of Keith Wood. The team's captain and hooker has not recovered from the sprained ankle ligaments which forced his withdrawal after a two-try first-half performance against the All Blacks last Saturday week.

In his place comes the New Zealand-born Ross Nesdale, a good all-round hooker currently playing his best rugby in a winning Newcastle team. However, the loss of Wood's leadership and sheer inspirational presence deprives the team of its main rallying point up front.

It's hard to see how his positive approach, fearless tackling and running with the ball in hand, not to mention his vocal encouragement and presence for the young players around him, will not be missed.

Nick Popplewell will now captain the side, but for all Popplewell's experience of topflight rugby and 45 Tests, the Newcastle loose-head is not a natural captain.

However, as the second-half collapses against Scotland and New Zealand in Ireland's last two internationals demonstrated, both following the interval departures of captains Jim Staples and Wood, there is a shortage of leadership material.

Also contrary to the medical word from the Irish camp, reserve scrum-half Brian O'Meara has been ruled out as well after sustaining a neck injury playing for Cork Constitution against Terenure last Saturday. His replacement on the bench will be announced today.

Allen Clarke of Northampton takes Nesdale's place on the bench.

President Nelson Mandela and Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu sent separate congratulatory messages yesterday to the Springboks on their crushing weekend defeat of France.

In his message, Mandela said he was "very proud' of the team . . . All I wish to say is that your team is a fitting representative of our rainbow nation."