Returning Duffy the centre of attention

IRELAND’S coaching eyes will on Gavin Duffy, the Galwegians and Connacht full back, when the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds play Scotland ‘A’ in Netherdale tomorrow night (7.30pm).

Duffy has been moved from the senior squad to the Wolfhounds to give him much needed game time following his recent recovery from injury. With Declan Kidney left counting the cost of injuries to full-back front runners, Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy, the Irish coach will be praying Duffy comes through unscathed as he is now catapulted into contention for the number 15 jersey along with Luke Fitzgerald.

He has won a total of 10 caps, the last two on tour against both Canada and the USA in May of 2009. He has enjoyed two spells with Connacht, with a long, European Challenge Cup-winning stint with Harlequins in between.

Fergus McFadden has been called into the senior squad as cover, while Ian Whitten replaces him for the trip to Scotland.

The team, to be coached by Eric Elwood and Anthony Foley, is an interesting selection. Ulster’s Chris Henry has been rewarded for some exceptional form in Europe with the captaincy and will play alongside fellow Ulster man Willie Faloon and Leinster’s Kevin McLaughlin, another player just back from injury.

Ian Nagle has jumped up the pecking order due to injuries sustained by both Donncha Ryan and Dan Tuohy and this is a huge opportunity for the young Munster player.

Damian Varley and Tony Buckley will be put to the test in the front row completed by Brett Wilkinson and there are opportunities too for some of the backs given the current injury crisis.

The centre partnership of the highly rated Ulster youngster Nevin Spence and Leinster’s bang-in-form Eoin O’Malley will also come under scrutiny, while Munster wingers Johne Murphy and Denis Hurley get similar opportunity to shine.

Tomás O’Leary’s form has wavered somewhat lately; hence he finds himself out of the loop with Kidney apparently favouring Peter Stringer and Eoin Reddan as first and second choice. But O’Leary is such a quality player that he might only be one very good game away from making a comeback.

Tomorrow represents a big opportunity for him as he partners Ulster’s Ian Humphreys.

Irish Wolfhounds: G Duffy (Galwegians — Connacht), J Murphy (Young Munster — Munster), E O’Malley (Old Belvedere — Leinster), N Spence (Ballynahinch – Ulster), D Hurley (Cork Constitution — Munster), I Humphreys (Ballymena — Ulster), T O’Leary (Dolphin – Munster), B Wilkinson (Galwegians — Connacht), D Varley (Garryowen — Munster), T Buckley (Shannon — Munster), I Nagle (Cork Constitution – Munster), D Toner (Lansdowne — Leinster), K McLaughlin (St. Mary’s College — Leinster), W Faloon (Ballynahinch — Ulster), C Henry (Ballymena — Ulster) captain.

Replacements: N Brady (Dungannon — Ulster), J Hagan (Corinthians — Connacht), A Browne (Galwegians – Connacht), D Ryan (Lansdowne — Leinster), I Boss (Terenure College — Leinster), N O’Connor (Belfast Harlequins — Ulster), I Whitten (Ballynahinch – Ulster)