Casey ready to earn spurs in second coming of second row

NICE job, supportive family and good lifestyle. That should be enough for anyone, but Bob Casey, once described by Donal Lenihan as one of rugby’s hottest properties, isn’t fully satisfied with his lot.

After a difficult spell, things might be about to change because the London Irish second row giant is named in Ireland’s A team to meet France at Donnybrook tonight (7pm).

Casey aims to add to the five caps already won for Ireland in 1999 and 2000 and if he gets the chance, is intent on making a more profound impact than in his first coming.

At 26, there is reason for optimism and if Casey is not one for blowing his own trumpet, his managing director at London Irish, Conor O’Shea, is more than willing to speak for him.

“Since he first played with Ireland he has come a long way. He’s a massive lad and even in the land of big people, well, he’s very big.”

O’Shea reflected ruefully on the decision of Casey to play against England in 2000 when he clearly wasn’t fit.

“He went out in that match against England with an injury and they’re not the opposition to face when you’re trying to play through the pain barrier. He got a painkiller to play in that game, but should never have taken it. It certainly didn’t do him any good.”

But O’Shea says that’s in the past.

“He was very good for us last year, he’s shaping up even better in the last couple of months. He took Martin Johnson apart this season and that’s good enough for me. Guys like Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan and Malcolm O’Kelly have every right to be where they are.

“There are other very good second rows in Ireland but I cannot be convinced that Bob is not the fourth best around.”

He has polished up on his game and is now more dynamic and explosive.

“He’s never going to be twinkle- toes, but it’s the variation that everyone is looking for and Tony Stanger (London Irish fitness coach) is confident he will achieve the level of improvement required.”

The O’Shea eulogy over, Casey rumbled in from training clutching a litre bottle of “recovery juice”.

He’s only slightly smaller than the 6’8” described by his boss.

“Nah, I’m only 6’7”,” he laughed.

As a youngster he had it all, part of a Blackrock College dream team, a member of the Irish schools, U-19s, U-21s and part of the Irish squad that toured Australia in 1999.

Having gone on to win five caps, the bubble burst due to injuries and loss of form.

On that Twickenham debacle, he said: “It’s water under the bridge. I had a couple of good seasons for Leinster afterwards but then had to have a knee operation and things took a downward turn again. I became frustrated and felt I’d like to have a fresh start. People got talking and so I came over here, had a look around, a chat with Conor and made the decision to move over.

“It has worked out pretty well. The fact that I’m playing at a high standard week in, week out has helped. I’ve learnt a huge amount from playing these games, from squaring up against some of the top second rows in Europe, one or two of them the best in the world, from studying videos of myself, the opposition and then just the environment at London Irish.

“I consider myself to be one of the main players in the club and they, in return, have given me confidence.

“After every game we get a stats sheet, see exactly what’s been done and has to be done. There’s a huge amount of feedback and the atmosphere is very much geared to getting the best out of the players.”

Casey was named Player of the Year in the club last season, based on his feats during the Premiership campaign. The stats highlight his tackle count as higher than any other second row and, remarkably, he was the fifth highest tackler in the whole of last year’s competition.

“It’s nice to know I am being watched and good to get a chance this weekend. All I know is I have never been in better condition and I feel I’m playing the best rugby of my career.”

IRELAND A: B Cunningham (Ulster), T Bowe (Ulster), K Lewis (Leinster), D Quinlan (Leinster), A Horgan (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), K Campbell (Ulster), R McCormack (Ulster), B Jackman (Connacht), S Best (Ulster), M McCullough (Ulster), B Casey (London Irish), A Quinlan (Munster), S Jennings (Leinster), R Wilson (Ulster).

Replacements: P Shields (Ulster), R Hogan (Connacht), B Gissing (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster), B O’Riordan (Leinster), P Burke (Munster), S Payne (Munster).

FRANCE A Squad: Forwards (12): V Debaty (Perpignan), G Menkarska (Auch), P Capdevielle (Brive), R Terrain (Pau), D Szarzewski (Béziers), R Millo-Chluski (Stade Toulousain), J Pierre (Bourgoin), L Nallet (Castres), G Le Corvec (Perpignan), P Rabadan (Stade Français), J Vallée (Montpellier), M Dridi (Toulon).

Backs (10): N Durand (Perpignan), JB Péjoine (Brive), B Boyet (Bourgoin), N Laharrague (Perpignan), JP Grandclaude (Perpignan), D Marty (Perpignan), G Boussès (Biarritz), J Candelon (Narbonne), JF Coux (Bourgoin), JB Dambielle (Auch).

Referee: W Barnes (England).