Maturing Humphreys makes case for Ireland’s call

IAN HUMPHREYS was the name on everyone’s lips following Ulster’s shock 37-11 victory over Munster in Saturday’s Magners League clash at Thomond Park.

The Ulster out-half was the stand-out candidate for the man of the match award as he masterminded the provinces’s first victory over Munster at Thomond Park since 1992 when his then relatively unknown brother, David, was also an inspirational figure.

Inevitably, there are now calls for Ian to be upgraded as Ronan O’Gara’s understudy with Ireland. “Since I haven’t been able to establish myself as Ulster out-half, I could hardly be thinking in terms of playing for Ireland,” Humphreys admitted.

While his coach, Matt Williams, urged caution, he still heaped praise on Humphreys after this performance.

“Ian has really come on, especially in defence,” he commented.

“We wouldn’t let him in the team until he got his tackling right.

“Every challenge we have put there, he has risen to it. People are now talking about him as a player and not because he’s David’s brother. He is growing in maturity, stature and self-belief.

There is a lot of pressure on him as David’s brother but I feel he has established himself in his own right. He is an exciting player with great vision. He brings other players around him well. He is quick and has a fine running game.”

Williams acknowledged that “Rog (Ronan O’Gara) is a Lion for sure, he is a great player. But what do we do if he gets the ‘flu? Who will step in? We need those alternatives. Ian fits the bill but I would be loath to rush these guys. Sometimes after two or three games we reward them too quickly. I would make life hard for them for a bit longer. It is Declan’s (Kidney) call on whether Ian makes the bench for Ireland. That is not for me to say. There are one or two others. Young Jonathan Sexton is coming through well. He has some way to go, but he has had some very good games while Ian Keatley at Connacht has done very well.”

As for Ulster’s fine overall performance at Thomond Park, Williams was well entitled to enthuse. And it was all the sweeter for him personally because his grandfather, John Patrick Ryan, came from Limerick.