Wood's return helps energise proceedings

SIX NATIONS: The cranky captain is back and he's been cranking it up already. Whether bellowing to cameramen to turn off their cameras, turning the chilly Wicklow air blue, shouting orders to team-mates, tackling aggressively or throwing a punch or two, at Dr Hickey Park yesterday the return of Keith Wood was palpable.

Even Peter Clohessy, heading into his 54th and last Test of a roller-coaster international career in Paris this Saturday, didn't sit out the session - as has been custom in his farewell wind-down.

The two old warriors were back in harness and, even by the train-as-you-play motto on the first days of match weeks, the continuity and defensive drills against 15-man opposition were more full-on than they've been on any Tuesday before a game during this championship.

By all accounts, Monday afternoon's session had been even more physical, which is hardly surprising given Trevor Brennan had been called up as one of the invited extras. Why, it was almost like old times, remembering how Brennan was 23rd man on the day Ireland beat France two years ago in Paris. Remarkably, two years and 19 internationals down the track, 11 of that side start on Saturday.

After five, pretty much unbroken years on the team, Wood was more frustrated than ever about a non-playing captaincy role for the first four games of the championship under a new coaching ticket. There's no doubt his mere presence will give a slightly stale looking squad quite a fillip, and likewise the return of his fellow Lion Rob Henderson.

The flipside of their lack of match practice is their eagerness and freshness, and they would have benefited from the tough work-outs of the last two days.

Predictably, that duo's return are the only two changes from the side which laboured to a 32-17 win over Italy, with Shane Horgan reverting to the right wing and John Kelly, like Shane Byrne, dropping to the bench where Keith Gleeson replaces the injured Eric Miller.

Frankie Sheahan and Tyrone Howe revert to the A team so Gordon D'Arcy moves to the A bench where James Blaney remains after Gavin Hickie was ruled out. Tony McWhirter and Andy Ward replace the injured Alan Quinlan and the promoted Gleeson in the back row.

It's tough on Kelly, after a two-try dream debut against Italy, but it would have been tougher on the man who has scored all eight of his Test tries from 10 starts on the right wing and among the nine number 11s he's kept scoreless were Jonah Lomu and Jason Robinson last autumn.

Henderson has had three big games in the last four meetings with the French, coming on as a replacement in the other, and looks fit and fresh, having lost a stone since injuring his groin against England in mid-February. Whether the pair last the 80 or 90 minutes must be doubtful though.

Eddie O'Sullivan conceded the pair haven't as many games under their belts as he would have liked. "But at the same time we're confident both of them came through games at the weekend very well, and they trained flat out with us this week so, all in all, we're fairly happy."

Aside from being "a world-class rugby player", O'Sullivan heralded the return of Wood for his leadership. "Certainly his gravitas as captain is important to us as well. He does lead the troops very well and playing away from home it'll probably be a very hostile environment so it's important to have somebody who's been there before and done that."

Indeed, between them Wood and Henderson bring 64 caps more to the equation than Shane Byrne and Kelly. Backs' coach Declan Kidney highlighted the experience Henderson brings. "Like Kevin he brings a bit of bumph and he's got good ball-handling skills too. It's what you hope a top-class player brings to anything really."

The greater edge to proceedings on the training ground comes with the greater fear a Grand Slam-seeking French side generate and O'Sullivan seemed more tense than normal earlier in the week.

Contrary to vibes from the French camp last week, but to be expected, France coach Bernard Laporte made just one change to his line-up with the return of fit-again tighthead Pieter de Villiers following his man-of-the-match performance against England, thereby ensuring the toughest of swansongs for Clohessy.

"I'm not surprised," said O'Sullivan. "He's a world-class player so it would make sense to put him in the team." He likened their defence to England's while highlighting the way they support the ball-carriers across the pitch and the brilliance of Fabien Galthie.

Needless to say, O'Sullivan wasn't inclined to give hostages to fortune by going along with the notion this game will define Ireland's season. "No I don't believe that. I think if you told me at the start of the year we would win our three home matches and play four of our five Six Nations games without our captain I'd be pretty happy. Obviously we're not going to Paris to make up the numbers.

"I think three home wins has been a good season for us, albeit with a fluctuating performance level, but it would be very important for us to give a good performance on Saturday. We've got to go at it hammer and tongs for an hour and a half, and see what happens."