Eager Wood named in squad

ALTHOUGH he hasn’t played a game in more than a month and may not line out for Harlequins on Saturday, Keith Wood has been included in the Irish squad of 22 from which the team to play Australia in the permanent tsb international at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week will be chosen.

Coach Eddie O’Sullivan explained yesterday that Wood was anxious to lead Ireland against the world champions, and given his status as rugby’s number one hooker, the Irish management are prepared to give him more time to prove his fitness.

On Monday, Wood began the long road back from disc trouble in his neck, and while the odds are stacked against him doing so, he could well make the Australian game, even if he doesn’t play for Harlequins at the weekend.