Sore, sorry, but smiling

ALAN QUINLAN will miss Munster’s opening two Heineken games and could face a six month lay-off if specialists order an operation on his dislocated shoulder.

The Shannon man is facing anything between six weeks and six months on the sidelines, depending on medical advice.

He arrived back from Australia yesterday sore and sorry but smiling at Shannon Airport.

Munster colleagues John Lacey and Mike Prendergast met him in Shannon before he was whisked off for an emotional re-union at Thomond Park, with his provincial colleagues busying themselves for Friday night's Celtic League tie in Edinburgh.

Quinlan put his situation in perspective when he commented: "I'll take what comes. When I look around and see the likes of Mike, who came back from a shoulder injury and then damaged the cruciate ligament in his knee that will keep him out for the rest of the season, my own situation doesn't appear to be too bad."

Quinlan dislocated a shoulder scoring a try against Argentina in the crucial Pool A clash, and notwithstanding the pain and suffering he has gone through, the flanker is determined to make light of his problems.

"I got the best possible medical treatment on the spot and great encouragement after the event. The shoulder was popped back very quickly - it took less than five minutes. The word is that, despite the seriousness of this kind of injury, there appears to be very little nerve damage."

However, Quinlan is resigned to having to face more than one medical examination in the next few weeks.

"After an injury like this, I have been told that my shoulder will never be quite 100% again. But I will be guided by medical opinion. Obviously, I would prefer to go through a recovery without an operation and that, I've been told, could be possible.

"If it's not, I don't intend to short-change myself or any of the teams I'm involved with. I will seek the best advice possible, but I will probably look for more than one opinion before I commit myself to anything," he said.

Quinlan left behind family members who had made the trip to support him in Australia to make the long trip home but, injury apart, he has no regrets about his time down under.

"The try is a bit hazy in my memory but I'm sure it will eventually a very happy one of the 2003 World Cup.

"From a personal point of view, it was probably my biggest challenge ever.

"People were calling me a hero after the match, but I was just pleased to be at the end of a movement and be able to finish off the score for the sake of the team.

"I was in hospital as the match progressed and my only worry was that Ireland should come out on top. It wasn't for me, it was a feeling for all of the lads, and, despite being in a bit of pain, it felt great when I got back to the stadium to join in the celebrations.

"That part of it, rather than the try, will be my abiding memory of that day because it meant so much to everyone.

"Really, it was impossible for supporters to realise the pressure on the team going into that game. No matter what we tried to tell ourselves, there was a bit of baggage going from four years ago. We all tried to ignore it but it was still in the back of the mind.

"It possibly took a bit from the overall performance, because we were all so nervous. We knew we couldn't afford to make the same mistakes and had to produce a winning rather than a magical display. But I believe Ireland really deserved to win the game, particularly after I watched the whole event again the following day.

"Then, against Australia last week there was an uplifted performance. The shackles were off and it was a great display that deserved better."

As Quinlan contemplates a well-earned rest over the next 48 hours, coupled with the prospects of visits to specialists, he is looking forward to Ireland's quarter-final clash with France and maybe something even more substantial beyond.

This weekend he will watch Ireland take on the French at his cousin's pub in Tipperary, cheering every move and willing them to victory.

"I had to laugh when the French came out with a statement that Ireland should now be favourites. It is nothing but French propaganda.

"But there will certainly be no real fear in the Irish camp. A win over Australia would have given the guys a so-called easier game against Scotland, but there are no guarantees in knock-out games.

"Ireland will be as motivated for the French as they were for Australia, and I see absolutely no reason why they can't get through to the semis.

"With a bit of luck, I won't have to face an operation and I might even be back out to see them take on and beat England in the semi-final and whoever else in the final!"

Despite the nightmare of a ruptured Achilles tendon, Denis Hickie was in relatively good spirits as he landed, on crutches, in Dublin Airport yesterday.

"It's disappointing because the tournament is just getting good and things are going well for Ireland.

"I knew it was pretty serious when it happened because I couldn't move my foot. It wasn't particularly sore or anything, which was good, but I knew straight away that it was serious."

Hickie faces six months on the side-line, but his premature return left him feeling blue for another reason. "I'll miss the buzz. If nothing else, the whole World Cup has been brilliant fun. It has been a really good trip."