Luck of the Irish?

Friday night should have been a night to savour for the Munster players. Victory at Musgrave Park over the Scarlets put the side on the brink of their second Celtic League title, their first for 6 years and since the re-branding and restructure of the league. They are looking forward to an unprecedented 8th Heineken Cup Semi-Final in the last 10 seasons. The province provided 11 of Ireland's Grand Slam winning squad and 8 will be touring South Africa this summer for the Lions, more than any other club or province. A night to saviour then, for the successes already achieved this season, and for the exciting challenges ahead. None, perhaps, had more to saviour than young scrum-half Tomas O'Leary. The man of Cork, playing at his club side Dolphins HQ should really have been able to savour what has been his "coming-out" party in to high class rugby society. He has of course featured in previous Munster triumphs, notably last seasons Heineken Cup win, but there is a feeling that this year it is more his achievements, after taking over the number 9 jersey for both Munster and Ireland from his Cork based colleague Peter Stringer. Heartbreaking then on a night that should have been a celebration of this young mans progress, that he should see his season ended so innocuously in the ninth minute, with a fracture and dislocation of the ankle. The cruel irony to cap it off? The injury was inadvertently inflicted by his team mate and fellow Lions selection Alan Quinlan. Luck of the Irish hey? Don't tell Tomas that.

O'Leary's absence is certainly a Lions concern. The removal of the only form 9 selected for the tour makes the battle ground with Fourie du Preez even more daunting. O'Leary may not be the flashiest or physical of scrum-halves but is understanding with O'Gara was a huge positive, as was his mounting collection of big game, pressure performances. Scotland skipper Mike Blair would perhaps now be the most obvious candidate to step in. Many, including this blog, felt that Blair was perhaps a little unfortunate to miss out in the first place, seeming to be omitted purely to make a point. It is fair to say that Blair, like the Scottish team as a whole, was not exactly inspiring in this years 6 Nations. True also that Edinburgh with Blair in the side have once again failed to make an impact at home or in Europe. However Blair hasn't particularly done anything wrong, he just hasn't particularly stood out since sparkling autumn form pushed him, for some commentators, into captaincy contention. This would be a fair enough reason to omit him if the same couldn't be said of the other half backs that did make it. Phillips, like the Ospreys and Wales, has tailed off with worrying rapidity. Further, after touching on luck earlier in this article, one has to ask how many four leaf clovers Harry Ellis has stashed away! Uninspiring, ill disciplined and not even the best 9 at his club, Ellis doesn't exactly fill you with confidence for the battle ahead with the World's best scrum-half.

England's Danny Care would add a bit of "x-factor". Searingly quick, alert to opportunities for breaks around the base and coming from a club side full of confidence and playing some of the most attacking rugby in the European club game. However his worrying penchant for mind numbingly foolish decisions on and off the field (perhaps most notoriously a ludicrous sin binning against Ireland in the 6 Nations and his drunken antics in the company of Mike Brown and Topsy Ojo between Test matches on England’s summer tour last year. The actions were later investigated by New Zealand police as part of sexual harassment charges brought against the players) do not aid his case. Neither has Care proven in a big game that he can take control and make a difference, the Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat against Leinster being a case in point. He has an opportunity to do so in the Guinness Premiership play-offs however, so maybe an outside bet. Chris Cusiter seems a more likely bet. A man riding high at the top of the French Top 14 with Perpignan, Cusiter was even entrusted to supply Daniel Carter ball on his brief stay in France. Cusiter has perhaps been unfortunate not to have forced his way in to the Scotland's starting 15 owing to Blair being captain. He has certainly shown both domestically and from the bench internationally that he is in better for than his national skipper and could even make a late run at the Lions test 15 if selected as O'Leary's replacement.

A final name and perhaps the most intriguing of the lot. O’Leary’s misfortune may well be to his provincial competitor Peter Stringer's gain. Stringer's second half of the season form as an impact number 9 has been a revelation. A man of the match performance at Murrayfield in the 6 Nations will have done know harm either and, if you think about it, he is almost the most logical replacement. The squad dynamic would not change at all; 14 Irishmen with 8 men of Munster still. A player the captain clearly knows and trusts with an even better relationship with O'Gara at fly half than O'Leary. Tried and tested in big games, still bringing a winning mentality and a vast experience of big games. He would not be first choice but ideal in the midweek squad and to perform a similar role as he has done for Ireland this season emerging from the bench with half an hour to go to either steady the ship or inject some fresh impetus with his snappy delivery. With big games left now as Munster's first choice he has the perfect opportunity to make the decision for the selectors. Luck of the Irish hey? Perhaps for Peter Stringer.

It seems to me that Blair may again miss out given that his opportunities between now and the end of the season a severely limited to impress. Therefore I feel Messer’s Howley and McGeechan may well be collecting their tickets for Heineken Cup, Guinness Premiership play-offs and Top 14 Grand Finals as the 3 form candidates battle it out for the newly open seat on the plane. It's going to be fun watching!