Full-back options running out

IRELAND’S options at full-back, normally so abundant, are beginning to look threadbare ahead of the Six Nations with the likelihood that Geordan Murphy will sit out the opening encounter with Italy in Rome.

The Leicester back was stretchered off after 71 minutes of his club’s Premiership match against Northampton last Saturday after going over on an ankle and was due to undergo a scan on the damage yesterday.

The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate for Murphy — who has constantly struggled to secure a regular place in his country’s first 15 — given that Rob Kearney is already unavailable for the opening few rounds with a knee injury.

That all leaves the door open for Luke Fitzgerald who, like Kearney, got injured during the November internationals but returned to action in the 15 jersey for Leinster in their Magners League win at home to Ospreys on Friday.

“That’s the way it is in Irish rugby,” said Ireland coach Declan Kidney yesterday.

“You try and build a squad so you can carry the injuries then all of a sudden you lose two or three. Felix Jones is out too since the start of the season.

“Even though an injury from the start of the season mightn’t impinge on Ireland too much it means you’re down a man through the season but it means there’s openings for guys. We’ll see how the next two weeks go.

“Gavin Duffy has been out for the last three weeks but he’s hoping to get back in the next fortnight.”

Kidney faces an anxious two weekends of Heineken Cup action before he can summon his troops ahead of the 2011 Six Nations. No doubt other injury concerns will crop up during that time but the fortnight will also offer an opportunity for others to blow off some cobwebs.

Fitzgerald is one such candidate in that regard and so too is Paul O’Connell, who will be hoping to get some badly-needed game time under his belt after the combined frustrations of long-term injury and short-term suspension. Whether he starts in Toulon remains to be seen.

“I’m sure Munster will make the right decision,” said a smiling Kidney when asked for his take on that most pressing of topics. “These games are hugely important and Munster will make their decision. I’ve learned in this game long enough.

“People ask me ‘what would you do?’ and I’ll just see who turns up for work in a fortnight’s time. Some things you can control, others you can’t control. Munster must make the right decision for Munster and let’s see what happens.”

It can’t be an easy time for a national coach, looking on more or less helplessly while someone else plays with his favourites toys and hoping that they aren’t damaged goods by the time February swings around.

Kidney has already seen his squad’s end-of-year get-together limited due to the sheer number of injuries under which so many of his backs were lingering but he is trying to adopt a practical approach to what is to come.

“You can’t control everything. I would have huge faith in what happens in the provinces and because of that I would stand back totally. We’ll have a private discussion as to how things turn out but we’ll have to see who turns up.

“You want the provinces doing well. If they are picking who’s right for them, that gives them the best chance of doing well and by the provinces doing well it will feed into the atmosphere of the camp when we come together in two weeks’ time.”