O'Sullivan ready for Wales backlash
Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan expects the controversy which has engulfed Welsh rugby to fire up the Grad Slam champions for Sunday’s clash at Lansdowne Road.
Speculation head coach Mike Ruddock was removed last week as a result of “player power” has threatened to derail Wales’ RBS Six Nations Championship.
Public support is firmly on Ruddock’s side with the players cast as the villains of a saga which reflects poorly on the under-fire Welsh Rugby Union.
To add to their woes, last season’s Six Nations winners have been rocked by the loss of Gareth Thomas for the rest of the campaign with a damaged neck artery.
Recent events suggest Wales will limp into Dublin a demoralised outfit but O’Sullivan predicts the opposite, with the troubles uniting their opponents.
“There’s always a reaction from any team that has gone through a trauma such as a change of coach or a run of losses. It usually galvanises the team and pulls them together,” he said.
“They often bounce back stronger for it. Wales will want to show they’re as strong as ever. We don’t expect any favours from them. They’ll be more fired up than usual.”
Ruddock has been replaced by Australian Scott Johnson until the WRU appoints a permanent successor and O’Sullivan voiced his sympathy for the mastermind of last season’s Grand Slam triumph.
“I feel sorry for any coach out of a job. I know Mike well. He’s a good guy and a very affable character. I’ve always got on well with him,” he said.
“I’m disappointed he’s out of work but that’s the nature of the business. I’m sure he’ll be working again soon.
“It’s unusual circumstances and its hard not to pick up on what is going on as it’s all ove the media.
“But it’s not something we need to focus on. We must focus on our own performance and getting a big game on Sunday. Wales will hav the same attitude as ever.”
O’Sullivan has made three changes following the 43-31 defeat by France with Donncha O’Callaghan, Marcus Horan and Andrew Trimble included in the starting line-up.
Paul O’Connell was yesterday ruled out with the shoulder injury he sustained against Les Bleus so O’Callaghan is promoted from the bench with Munster colleague Mick O’Driscoll winning a place among the substitutes.
O’Sullivan expects O’Connell, who missed the autumn series with a thumb problem, will be back in time to face Scotland and England.
“I’d be surprised if Paul is not fit for the Scotland game. We were optimistic on Monday because he’d trained last week and had made good progress,” he said.
“He trained again yesterday but had a reaction when we put more pressure on him. The doctor wasn’t happy and we took him for a scan.
“There was still a lot of laxity on the joint and the decision was taken not to risk him because had he played and got a bang on it he would have missed the last two games of the tournament.
“He wasn’t far away but just not close enough. There are still two more games after Wales and we’re very confident he will be back for those. It’s a smart decision.”
Trimble replaces misfiring Ulster team-mate Tommy Bowe on the left wing while Marcus Horan displaces Reggie Corrigan at loosehead after recovering from a bug.
Versatile Leinster back Girvan Dempsey plugs the gap on the bench and hooker Jerry Flannery will undergo a fitness test on his ankle injury later in the week.
