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O'Driscoll honoured by rugby writers

A COLLECTION of outstanding performances – selfless heroics against England and in the second Lions Test instantly spring to mind – ensured Brian O'Driscoll was honoured last night by the rugby writers of Ireland at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, writes Gavin Cummiskey.

The national captain was also part of the club team of the year, Leinster, and the Dave Guiney perpetual award for team of the year, Ireland, as the most remarkable of rugby seasons was celebrated.

The 2009 season marked O’Driscoll’s 10th campaign as Ireland’s outside centre, first captaining the side in 2002 against Sunday’s opponents Australia. It seems almost laughable now that several expert observers felt he should be unburdened of the responsibility last November before leading Ireland to only a second Grand Slam and ending a 61-year wait in the process.

However, it is true that Leinster and the Lions were admirably captained by O’Driscoll’s team-mates Leo Cullen and Paul O’Connell. Paddy ‘Rala’ O’Reilly of Terenure College RFC was presented the Tom Rooney award, recognising 15 years of inspirational yet understated endeavours as the Ireland team bag man.

Finally, two former generations of Irish backrow play was applauded with Fergus Slattery and Ronnie Kavanagh inducted into the Hall of Fame. Slattery won 61 caps while Kavanagh gathered 35 caps between 1952 and 1962.

Gatland makes five changes to face Samoa

WALES’ head coach Warren Gatland has made five changes from the team beaten by New Zealand for Friday night’s Millennium Stadium clash against Samoa.

Cardiff Blues’ 21-year-old flanker Sam Warburton is among the players called up, winning just his second cap. Warburton takes over from his Blues colleague Martyn Williams, while one other switch up front sees a start for Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett.

Behind the scrum, Blues wing Tom James, Ospreys outhalf Dan Biggar and experienced Sale Sharks scrum-half Dwayne Peel all start as respective replacements for Shane Williams, Stephen Jones and Gareth Cooper.

Peel was unavailable for the 19-12 All Blacks defeat last Saturday because Sale were under no obligation to release him as the game fell outside the International Rugby Board’s recognised autumn Test window.

The substitutes include rookie Ospreys prop Craig Mitchell and Mitchell’s regional colleague, flanker Jonathan Thomas.

WALES (v Samoa, Millennium Stadium on Friday): J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), T James (Cardiff Blues); D Biggar (Ospreys), D Peel (Sale Sharks); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), H Bennett (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Replacements: M Rees (Scarlets), C Mitchell (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Roberts (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), M Stoddart (Scarlets).

Weekend fixtures

Friday

International Matches: France v South Africa, Toulouse, 7.45 Live RTÉ 2/ESPN; Wales v Samoa, Millennium Stadium, 7.30.

A International: Ireland A v Tonga XV, Ravenhill, 7.0.

Saturday

International Matches: England v Argentina, Twickenham, 2.30 Live Sky Sports 1; Italy v New Zealand, San Siro, Milan, 2.0 Live Setanta Sports; Scotland v Fiji, Murrayfield, 2.30 Live BBC 1.

AIB All-Ireland League

(All fixtures 2.30pm)

Division One A: Blackrock v Shannon, Stradbrook; Cork Constitution v Clontarf, Temple Hill; Garryowen v Dolphin, Dooradoyle; UL Bohemian v St Mary’s, Thomond Park.

Division One B: Ballynahinch v UCC, Ballymacarn Park; Dungannon v Buccaneers, Stevenson Park; Galwegians v Old Belvedere, Crowley Park; Young Munster v Ballymena, Tom Clifford Park.

Division Two: Belfast Harlequins v Bruff, Deramore Park; Dublin University v Greystones, TBA; Highfield v DLSP, Woodleigh Park; Lansdowne v Bective Rangers, RDS; Malone v Thomond, Gibson Park; Old Crescent v Terenure, Rosbrien; Old Wesley v Corinthians, Donnybrook UCD v Clonakilty, Belfield.

Division Three: Ards v Portadown, Hamilton Park; Instonians v Midleton, Shaws Bridge; Naas v Co Carlow, Forenaughts; Nenagh Ormond v Banbridge, New Ormond Park; Queen’s University v Navan RFC, Dub Lane; Rainey OB v Connemara, Hatrick Park; Sundays Well v Suttonians, Musgrave Park; Wanderers v Barnhall, Merrion Road.

Sunday

International Matches: Ireland v Australia, Croke Park, 3.0 Live RTÉ 2/BBC 2.

Tuesday

Tour Match: Saracens v South Africa, Wembley, 7.45 Live Sky Sports 2.

Carter banned for one match

NEW ZEALAND outhalf Dan Carter will miss Saturdays Test against Italy after receiving a one game ban for a high tackle. He was cited for a dangerous tackle on Wales replacement scrumhalf Martin Roberts late in Saturday’s 19-12 victory in Cardiff.

Carter moved to within one point of Andrew Mehrtens as his countrys leading points scorer in Saturday’s win. Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu and prop Tony Woodcock, who were banned from the Wales game after citings in the win over Australia in Tokyo, are now available for selection. Milan’s San Siro stadium will be an 80,000 sell-out on Saturday – the biggest crowd for a rugby match in Italy.

Doran-Jones to make debut

PAUL DORAN-JONES is set to make his England debut against Argentina on Saturday after David Wilson was ruled out with a neck injury.

Doran-Jones (24) was born in Dublin and has played for Ireland Under-19 and Under-21 but attended Wellington College in Berkshire and is qualified for England, whom he also represented at schoolboy level.

England turned to Doran-Jones, as their propping crisis deepened further. Martin Johnson will confirm his side today.