Clohessy, on preliminary Lions panel, pulls out all stops to seal his place

IRELAND’S Peter Clohessy has set his sights firmly on a place in the Lions Test side for the series against Australia this summer.

Clohessy was yesterday named in a preliminary panel of 67 players and is hotly tipped to make the cut to the actual touring party of 37 or 38.

The 34 year old, an original selection for the last tour to South Africa, was disappointed to have his chance of playing for the Lions blighted by injury. With that in mind, allied to the fact that he is pushing on in years, Clohessy has taken a determined but pragmatic approach to what is, he terms, his last chance.

When Clohessy, then firmly established as one of the world’s best tight head props, had to withdraw from the 1997 squad he was replaced by fellow countryman Paul Wallace.

History reveals that Wallace, an outsider for a Test place, actually got in for all three and played a major role in the success of the team as they won the series with South Africa 2 1.

Now, Clohessy is better known for his scrummaging power in the loose head position but he doesn’t much care whether the Lions coach Graham Henry wishes to use him in the number one or three jerseys.

“All that matters to me right now is that I get into the touring party and a place in the Test side. If it’s at one, that’s fine, and if it is at three, then it will be just as good from my point of view. "Clohessy, with the Six Nations Championship and the Lions tour facing him, took a calculated decision in June of last year to cut out the booze and the cigarettes. Since then he has had the odd glass of wine or lager shandy and no cigarettes. Only one thing counted fitness and he has reaped the benefits of the frugal life to date. Still, he is under no illusions that more hard work will have to go in during Ireland’s next three Championship matches. "A lot of players have already been named in this squad. There are no guarantees for anyone, so I feel the next three, or at least two of them, will be crucial to helping the selectors make up their minds."

There are 15 Irish players in the squad but only eleven of them currently in the team. Girvan Dempsey, Mick Galwey, Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan have all been ignored but Championship newcomer David Wallace, a brother of Paul, has been named in a cluttered list of top class back row forwards.

Jeremy Davidson, Kieron Dawson and Eric Miller, all out with injuries, are named in the big list and so too is Shane Horgan who is unable to hold down a place in the current Irish team. While England have 22 players and Wales 18 in the squad, the Irish personnel can press their claims further. A win in Cardiff and a decent performance against England at Lansdowne Road would enhance the chances of having a stronger representation in the final squad. With the Irish backline growing in confidence and delivering results as well, Brian O’Driscoll looks certain to be joined by more than one of his colleagues behind the scrum.

Amongst the front runners are Denis Hickie, Rob Henderson, Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer.

O’Gara, hailed for recent performances, is one of four out halves named although former Irish number ten Ralph Keyes reckoned he has now been elevated to number two contender behind England’s Jonny Wilkinson.

Stringer is also in with a chance after displaying skill and determination throughout Munster’s European Cup campaigns over the last two seasons whilst also pushing his claims with a succession of fine performances for Ireland.

England’s Matt Dawson and Kieran Bracken remain the top two number nines but Stringer has a real chance if he can get the better of Rob Howley in Wales next week. Howley has been struggling to find his best form in the last six months.

With O’Driscoll certain to gain selection, Rob Henderson has come thundering into contention, and all of that is good news for Ireland, confirmation that the country’s back play has come on in leaps and bounds over the last 18 months.

The fact that vacancies have been left for injured players such as Eric Miller, Kieron Dawson and Jeremy Davidson suggests Irish personnel may feature more strongly than anticipated.