The Axle in Ireland’s wheel

CONSIDERING he was left in international rugby limbo for three years between 1997 and 2000, it is an even more exceptional achievement for Anthony Foley to be winning his 60th cap at the age of 31 against England at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.

The fact that he is playing as well as ever is a testament to the number eight's innate ability, dedication and enjoyment he gets from the game.

He assumes extra duties and responsibilities, not least when fearlessly driving into enemy ranks off free kicks, while his honesty of purpose is a byword in rugby.

Tomorrow, Ronan O'Gara becomes the eighth member of the current side to play 50 times for Ireland. Only Malcolm O'Kelly of the team, with 71 caps, along with Kevin Maggs, 67, and David Humphreys, 66, on the bench, and before them, Mike Gibson, 69; Willie John McBride, 63, and Fergus Slattery, 61, have reached the 60 mark.

However, Foley keeps his satisfaction in proportion.

"It doesn't really matter how many caps you accumulate," he says.

"It's Ireland v England at Lansdowne Road and it doesn't get much bigger. I got my first cap against England back in 1995 and scored a try. Niall Woods made a great break down the touchline, the ref gave a penalty, a quick tap and go and I just fell over. But we still lost.

"This time, it's very important we play our own game. We know

England are going to give a massive account of themselves. They're under a lot of pressure, people ramming stuff down their throats so we're expecting a backlash. When Ireland meet England, games are won and lost up front and it's crucial we don't take a backward step. The first point of confrontation is in the forwards so we've got to be right up there for this game. They're a wounded beast but they're also the world champions and will come out with all guns blazing.

"They have a very talented back-row trio. Corry, Moody, Worsley, three tremendous players. Very aggressive, abrasive. They won't back away from anything so it's going to be a tough day. It's a big step for them to take over from the likes of Back, Hill and Dallaglio but these three have a lot of experience; there's a lot of calibre there, so they'll be in there. As a back-row, you have to work as a trio and it's important you get into that, especially on the international scene where you don't get much time to think; you have to trust the guys around you and that comes with time."

Beverly Hills Cop was all the rage at the cinema when Anthony was young so it was inevitable he should be dubbed "Axle" after the Axle Foley character played by Eddie Murphy.

It stayed with him as he established himself among rugby's elite, through a glittering schools career, followed by the first cap at the age of 21 and eventually to tomorrow's milestone.

It always looked a certainty that Foley would be an integral part of the Irish team for a long time and that has duly come to pass, though the 1997 World Cup proved his undoing. It wasn't until the 1999-2000 season that he became a regular once again.

"Between '97 and 2000 I was playing a lot of A rugby and Munster weren't doing too well either. It was '99-2000, when Munster clicked into gear and from the momentum created from the Heineken Cup success, a lot of us moved on and I got back in against England at Twickenham. That was another tough day at the office.

"This is the most settled Irish set-up I've been part of. We're also organised. It's great to be a player in Ireland at present. Everything is geared to the highest level. It's the way the IRFU have structured it and the way Eddie and the boys have implemented the plans. This has led to a competitive squad. At times, you lose one or two players and one or two others will step in and do a job."

Foley speaks with special fervour of the days when he helped Ireland beat Australia and England when both were world champions, South Africa, the French game in Paris in 2000.

"Those are the milestones you reach through your career and the little things you cross off, but winning the Triple Crown was probably the best moment, to win something for your country is something special," he says.

"Because it's a team sport, you tend to remember things that happen as a group. If you're looking for an individual thing, it must be Girvan's [Dempsey] try in Twickenham last year. We had worked on that so hard in training and for it to come off in the game was absolutely brilliant."

Having played top-class rugby as an amateur and professional, Foley believes he has enjoyed the best the game can offer and doesn't worry about the demands imposed on the elite players.

"It's been brilliant to sample both. We're more competitive as professionals but you learn a lot as an amateur good and bad. The professional game means you sacrifice a lot, family life, social life goes out the window and it's hard at times being away from home but it's part of the job.

"It's rewarding and I love it."