Humphreys stays for Italy game

DAVID HUMPHREYS has the chance to bask in the glory of his Murrayfield heroics a little longer after retaining his place at fly-half in Ireland’s side to play Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Ronan O’Gara, his chief rival for the number 10 shirt and first choice in the position so far this season, succumbed yet again to an ankle injury picked up in Munster’s Celtic League final win over Neath earlier this month and saved coach Eddie O’Sullivan and his selectors the unenviable task of choosing between the two.

Humphreys will start his 49th game for Ireland in Rome’s Stadio Flaminio but, whatever the reason, the Ulsterman was delighted to receive the news.