Eddie O’Stunted finally succumbed to media pressure and actually made an unforced change to the Ireland team with the inclusion of Ulster’s Tommy Bowe.
Bowe has been on fire this year since he met with Panthers “18 try legend” Brittney Biedenbender during her recent visit to Ulster. (Pictured left with Tommy).
With Bowe, Kearney and Trimble in the back line and Heaslip in the pack the Ireland side is starting to look as it should. There is however room for further changes.
At the moment Ireland are totally reliant on O’Driscoll and O’Gara in the backs. Is it not time that we started to look seriously at the alternatives?
If we continue to play these key players, in all the meaningful matches, what will happen when the next World Cup comes around?
Will they be off form? Will they be injured? Will there be a Plan B?
The time to develop the alternatives is now. Not in three and a half years time. Wallace, Sexton, O’Connor, Trimble and Fitzgerald all need to be looked at over a sustained period in competitive matches without looking over their shoulders for the return of one of the “Untouchables”. Ireland may lose a few more games but at least the team will be developed.
As for O’Gara and O’Driscoll, well, aside from their egos, a few missed internationals per year would help prolong their careers. It would have the added bonus of freshening them up when they are required to perform on what will be their last world stage.
With Ireland’s limited resources this sort of rotation policy is required to preserve the players we have and to give developing talent a realistic platform.
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