The guessing game begins

THE next six days promise to be the most demanding in the life of Ireland’s rugby coach Eddie O’Sullivan.

It's a job he always wanted and with 10 consecutive wins to his credit this year, one could expect him to be extremely happy with his lot. Now, however, he must face up to the most difficult task of all settling on the team he believes is best equipped to complete the Grand Slam against England at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.

He is fortunate that Saturday's thriller against Wales left him with no further injury problems and that those who missed out on Cardiff, such as Gary Longwell and Victor Costello, should be available for selection. But it is who to exclude, rather than who to select, that leaves him with the greatest level of soul searching.