‘Luck of the Irish’ deserts O’Sullivan as injuries mount

WITH Geordan Murphy and Denis Hickie unlikely to play again this season and Brian O’Driscoll a major doubt for France (February 14) and Wales (Feb 22), Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan and his management team face many problems in the build-up to the Six Nations Championship.

The luck of the Irish has certainly run out on this occasion for you can hardly imagine three more valuable players being sidelined at such a crucial stage of the season.

For a country of our size and resources, replacing them is a huge task although obviously the situation opens up doors for several fringe players. Mike Mullins will certainly fancy his chances of taking over from O’Driscoll at outside centre given that he is the only specialist in the position currently operating on the provincial scene.