Lions keep O'Sullivan waiting
Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan faces an anxious waiting game over the fitness of Lions forwards Paul O’Connell and Simon Easterby for a tough autumn Test schedule.
Lions skipper Brian O’Driscoll has, as expected, already been ruled out of November appointments with New Zealand, Australia and Romania while he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery.
O’Driscoll saw his tour ended just seconds into the first Test when he was victim of a controversial tackle from All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu.
Wing Denis Hickie, scrum-half Guy Easterby, plus flankers Alan Quinlan and Eric Miller have all joined O’Driscoll on the list of Irish absentees.
And O’Sullivan is now keeping fingers crossed that Munster lock O’Connell (hand) and Llanelli Scarlets flanker Easterby (broken nose) do not join them.
O’Connell has not played since suffering his injury on September 23, but was due to have a plaster-cast removed today.
Easterby, meanwhile, underwent an operation after being hurt early in the Scarlets’ Heineken Cup defeat against Toulouse last Saturday.
Both players have been named among a 32-man squad, which also features four uncapped prospects – Leinster wing Robert Kearney, Ulster centre Andrew Trimble, his provincial colleague, flanker Neil Best, and Leinster’s 21-year-old number eight Jamie Heaslip.
“The cast on Paul’s hand is due to come off today, and we will wait and see what the specialist says,” said O’Sullivan.
“Simon suffered a broken nose and was operated on at the weekend, so again, we will wait and see what the medical opinion is on his availability.
“The injury rate at this point of the season has been high, and with three Lions players out injured, as well as fitness tests pending on two others, this impacts on the experience in the squad considerably.
“At the same time, this creates opportunities for other players in the squad to step forward.”
O’Sullivan, meanwhile, has left a vacancy among the backs which will be filled after next weekend’s round of Heineken Cup action.
As for the new faces in his squad, O’Sullivan added: “The back row is again an area where competition is high.
“Both Jamie and Neil have impressed in their performances so far this season, and Andrew Trimble has slotted in well with Ulster and has benefited from their good run.”
Ireland launch their autumn campaign against the All Blacks in Dublin on November 12, followed by successive weekend appointments with Australia and Romania.
