O’Callaghan aims to take chance with both hands

ALTHOUGH it’s being portrayed as a straight swap between Donncha O’Callaghan for the injured Paul O’Connell in Ireland’s second-row, Eddie O’Sullivan hinted strongly during the week that the Cork Con man would have been chosen no matter what.

So Malcolm O’Kelly has benefited most from O’Connell’s absence and how the new second-row partnership fares will be one of the more interesting aspects of tomorrow’s clash with Wales at Lansdowne Road.

O’Callaghan and O’Kelly are aware that O’Connell will be fully fit when Scotland come to Lansdowne Road in two weeks and accordingly, the pressure on both men to deliver a big performance is greater than ever. They will be expected to give Ireland a line-out edge against the none too inspiring Welsh partnership of Ian Gough and Robert Sidoli, although O’Callaghan doesn’t necessarily see things in that light.