Make or break Down Under

THE thousands of Irish who made their way to the Melbourne Cup today can enjoy a welcome breather from the Rugby World Cup.

But not so the Irish squad that has qualified to meet France in the quarter-finals in the Telstra Dome on Sunday.

Whatever about last week when Eddie O’Sullivan hinted that he might rest a few key men for the Australian game, there can be no doubt where his intentions lie on this occasion. The knock-out stages have arrived. If we beat France, we are here for the duration of the tournament. If we lose, we’re on the plane home on Monday.

So this time it has to be the best foot forward when O’Sullivan shows his hand tomorrow.

O’Sullivan will almost certainly start the game with John Kelly on the left wing for the luckless Denis Hickie, and apart from the back-row, where Victor Costello will challenge either Anthony Foley at number eight or Simon Easterby at six, there shouldn’t be undue debate among the selectors.

Indeed, I strongly suspect that Kelly for Hickie will be the only change from last week’s starting line-up.

And with the pool section now finally out of the way, it is timely to look at how each member of the Irish squad has fared to date starting with the coach himself and rating from a maximum of 10.

THE MANAGEMENT

Eddie O’Sullivan: Many eyebrows were raised when the man from Youghal had his contract extended for a couple of years beyond the 2004 Six Nations but it is now apparent that the so-called blazers at 62 Lansdowne Road know a little more than their many detractors would suggest. While there have been several outstanding individual performances in the tournament so far, few have excelled the Irish coach for his extraordinary organisational skills, his attention to detail, overall commitment to the task and perhaps above all, his profound knowledge of his brief. So far anyway, the guy once known in his college days as the “Beach Boy” hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Brian O’Brien, Declan Kidney and Niall O’Donovan: O’Brien and Kidney sit in at every press conference but hardly get a word in edgeways. O’Sullivan is the loquacious, eloquent, type. Clearly both are performing their varying tasks and this is a very happy and contented Irish party. No sign of Saipan here. O’Donovan is being given much of the credit for the huge improvement in Irish forward play, especially by his captain, and it seems to be well justified.

THE PLAYERS

Girvan Dempsey: May not be a Geordan Murphy but has everybody’s grudging admiration. He gets the job done. 7.

Shane Horgan: Has totally justified his original inclusion at a time when he hadn’t played rugby for months. Has been outstanding in every game and thankfully got away with his stamping folly against Australia. 8.

Brian O’Driscoll: Never lost his self belief and made his point in considerable style against the Wallabies. Hopefully will now go on to reach the heights that saw him recognised as the game’s finest centre a couple of years ago. 8.

Kevin Maggs: As always, has been prepared to put his body on the line. Not the most skilful, perhaps, but an admirable foil for O’Driscoll and oustanding against Argentina. A key man. 8.

Denis Hickie: It’s a sad and sobering thought to realise his World Cup is over and that Geordan Murphy’s never started. Can Ireland go all the way without players of this calibre? Probably not. But Hickie can be proud of what he achieved before that ruptured achilles tendon ended it all. 8.

John Kelly: Has the happy knack of rising to the big occasion. The pass that set up O’Driscoll’s try last week was truly inspired. 7.

Ronan O’Gara: Would surely benefit from an extended spell as Ireland’s number one out-half. He is that and O’Sullivan probably now realises this. Rog is the present and the future although when he kicks for touch, you’d like to see him find it more often. 7.

David Humphreys: A good, solid all-round game and still very much in line to start against France. His days are rapidly running out but a man who has earned well deserved respect in every quarter. 7.

Peter Stringer: What would we do without him? Any further comment would be superfluous. 9.

Reggie Corrigan: Part of a very decent front-row. Has held his end up well and justified O’Sullivan’s belief that he can get through the tournament successfully if not a whole lot more. 7.

Marcus Horan: Many good judges believe his arrival sparked off the mini-revival that helped to see off Argentina in that agonising final quarter hour. He’ll be number one at No 1 sooner rather than later. 7.

Keith Wood: WE’VE often been accused of being a nation of begrudgers and there are those who still refuse to see Wood for the trees. The reality is that Keith has been magnificent as player and leader. Superb in defence, even better in attack and a calming influence as captain when the going gets toughest. 9.

John Hayes: Very nearly fits into the Stringer category. One of the game’s best tight head props and Ireland are very fortunate that he recovered in time from injury. A key man. 9.

Paul O’Connell: Thankfully his indiscretion against Namibia hasn’t prevented the Young Munster redhead from emerging as one of the outstanding players of the tournament so far. He allies natural foot-balling ability and amazing work rate to the ideal modern second-row physique with which he is blessed. 9.

Malcolm O’Kelly: Had his best game when it was most needed against Australia and also got through a lot of open field work against the Pumas. But the youngsters are yapping at his feet and he needs a big one on Sunday to keep them at bay. 7.

Donncha O’Callaghan: Only a short matter of time before he joins O’Connell in a partnership that will ring around the world. A class act from his days at CBC, he has come on all the time and must be very close to a starting place. 8.

Simon Easterby: I was one of those who couldn’t quite get their head around his original selection. Again, though, O’Sullivan seems to have known what he was up to and the Llanelli flanker has been receiving rave notices from his captain for a “scary” work rate. 8.

Keith Gleeson: Surprisingly dropped against Argentina, probably proved O’Sullivan right with a low-key display against Australia when he had so many points to make. 6.

Alan Quinlan: The revelation of the Pumas game with his line-out expertise and great try before injury intervened. Get better soon, Quinny, Munster and Ireland need you. 8.

Anthony Foley: The World Cup has yet to really take off for the great man from Shannon. Injury has reduced his impact and surprising as it may seem, one of Wood’s neighbours (and generals) is in danger of losing his place. 7.

Victor Costello: For big Vic, read Foley. 7.

Eric Miller: Lucky to be chosen in the first place, has done okay but no more when coming in as a sub in the big games. 6.