Wood opts out of Pumas Test

Keith Wood has been obliged to take another rest from the game due to his troublesome neck injury, and as a result has ruled himself out of consideration for next Saturday's international match against Argentina at Lansdowne Road.

The Irish captain has informed the team management that he will not be available for selection against the Pumas due to a leaking disc in his neck. Wood had returned to action last weekend for Harlequins, but today confirmed he has decided "to take a rest from the game for a few weeks" and accordingly has withdrawn from his club's league tie at home to Wasps tomorrow.

"He just feels he's not 100 per cent, and he wants to give himself another few weeks to get right," said Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan. "At this stage you've got to prioritise things, particularly with the Six Nations and the World Cup in mind. I would love to have him back on the scene, and for him to be on track with the comeback and play against Argentina. But it's not going to happen now and we'll just get on with."

Although nobody concerned has yet mentioned that the injury could be career threatening, it must be a serious concern for Wood and the Irish management, given it is a neck injury to a front-row forward. Wood had been sidelined for five weeks prior to last Sunday's comeback for Harlequins in their 36-30 defeat to Saracens, and by next Saturday will have missed nine of Ireland's last 13 matches.

Eric Miller had a fitness test on his calf strain yesterday and "looks okay", said O'Sullivan, to take his place on the bench tomorrow, though the coach added "You can never be completely sure with a muscle injury like that."

Looking further down the track, Ireland's rematch with Australia next June has been moved from Brisbane to Perth due to a clash with an Australian Rules game. Ireland's meeting with the Wallabies was due to be the first game held in Brisbane's newly-built Suncorp Stadium, but the proposed Tri-Nations game between Australia and South Africa on August 2nd clashes with an Australian Football match between Fremantle and Richmond that day.

Hence, the Australia-South Africa match has been moved to Suncorp Stadium, and in return the Australia-Ireland game fixed for Saturday, June 7th, has been switched from Brisbane to the Subiaco Oval in Perth, scene of Ireland's 32-26 defeat in the second Test on their last visit down under in June 1999, as well as the venue for the Lions' 100-point tour opener against Western Australia in 2001.