Time right for change and brave selection

WHEN the five Ireland selectors meet next Saturday morning to select the side to meet France in Paris on Saturday week, they will do so well informed of the current form and fitness of the candidates for selection. They were all at Lansdowne Road to see Leinster play New South Wales, and tonight, they will be at Ravenhill to see Ulster play the Australian visitors.

It is important that the selectors absorb the lessons administered by Scotland in Dublin last month. It is also important that they take the necessary remedial action. I do agree that change for the sake of change can be a futile exercise. However, alterations are needed and options are available.

Telling evidence can be deduced from the match against the Scots, evidence that substantiated previous experience, and the selectors should act on it. There is a belief that Parc des Princes is not the place to blood players in the demands of the international arena. That depends on circumstances. Right now, circumstances and events do not favour Ireland.

No one can know whether a player has the necessary temperament until he is tried in the international arena. Many a player has played very well at other levels and then failed to reveal the necessary level of temperament. I can think of several who when they appeared in the old final trials were shown to be flawed. It was one of the values of the trial. But we are in an era now when there are schools, under 21 and A internationals that give players considerable experience.

Experience is a priceless asset in international sport. However, the Ireland team has sufficient experience within its ranks to select a player or a few new players. Pat Whelan, the Ireland manager, was a player in the early 1970s who was just taking his initial steps along the representative road. He will remember the last time Ireland beat France in Paris. That was in 1972 at the old Stade Colombes. That Ireland side mixed experience and youth.

Ireland picked five new caps that afternoon. They were Tom Grace, Wallace McMaster, John Moloney, Con Feighery and Stewart McKinney. Ireland won 14-9. The match was also notable for the fact that Ireland recalled Kevin Flynn to the team after an absence of six years from international rugby. They faced an experienced French side that did not include one new cap, while Ireland had not won in France for 20 years prior to that match.

When Ireland last won the International Championship and Triple Crown, in 1985, no fewer than six of the side were uncapped at the start of the season. They were Brendan Mullin. Michael Bradley, Willie Anderson, Philip Matthews, Nigel Carr and Brian Spillane. Like the 1972 side, they were surrounded by players of considerable experience. The amalgam proved potent.

As the Ireland selectors contemplate the composition of the side for Paris, they should bear 1972 and 1985 in mind. They should not be inhibited about selecting men whose experience does not equal that of the last selection.

I DO not share the view that the selectors should not change the side very much. I hope they make several changes in the team. There is a strong case for the selection of Niall Woods on the left wing, with Simon Geoghegan going to the right. Richard Wallace did nothing very wrong against Scotland, but Woods' greater pace could be an asset in Paris. His defence is not inferior to that of Wallace either.

I would also have no hesitation in selecting Niall Hogan at scrum half, and I would also make him captain. He is a far more rounded player than Chris Saverimutto. There is also a strong case for selecting Paul Burke at out half. Eric Elwood has many admirable qualities, but Burke is the better option if Ireland intend to use the position as a platform for attack. Furthermore, Elwood's kicking was poor against Scotland. David Humphreys could also figure and could do a lot to enhance his claims with a good performance tonight for Ulster.

Nick Popplewell did not have a good match against Scotland, but he has served Ireland admirably. I would also make the same case about Peter Clohessy. Henry Hurley and Paul Wallace represent the alternatives. Terry Kingston should also be retained as hooker. Alan Clarke is not big enough, while Shane Byrne, who should be on the bench, is still having problems with his line out throwing. I would stay with the same front row. However, it will be an area for considerable discussion.

Gabriel Fulcher is a certainty and rightly so, but who will the selectors play alongside him? Will they stick with Neil Francis or will they have the courage to do what they should do and leave him out? His poor work rate is a high price to pay for the few line outs he may win. His performances against teams of quality recently have, quite frankly, been very poor. He played well against the US, but against Pontypridd, Cardiff, Scotland and New South Wales, his contributions were minimal. It is time the selectors stopped indulging Francis. I would rather see a full hearted player such as Davey Tweed in the side. Moving Paddy Johns to the second row, where he previously played well for Ireland, may be an even better option.

He did not play well in an imbalanced back row against Scotland, but he has also played many a good match at number eight for Ireland. I hope the selectors pick him with Fulcher in the second row and give Victor Costello his championship debut at number eight. Costello did not play well against New South Wales and his defence needs improvement, but he has had a very good season. He was outstanding in the A match against Scotland and his strength going forward would be a useful asset against the French.

It is unfortunate that Eddie Halvey is ruled out. That limits the options on the flank. Jeremy Davidson, on the evidence of the Scotland match, may not be ready as yet at this level, but the selectors may persist with him. If not, then David Corkery can be moved to the blind side. Anthony Foley, who played in the A side against Scotland, is also a blind side option. If Corkery is moved to the blind side, then Denis McBride, as fullhearted and courageous a player as ever wore an Ireland jersey, could be chosen on the open side. That would leave Costello with two very experienced players in the back row. It is now over to the selectors. It will be a very interesting selection, indeed.