News round-up: Hemmed in over recent years by the unstoppable march of both professionalism and the provinces, feeling neglected even by their parent body, nothing has concentrated the minds of the clubs more than the surreptitious onset of provincial A games. This, they feel, has relegated them another rung in Irish rugby's so-called pyramid structure.
Yesterday's A game between Leinster and Munster in Roscrea is a timely case in point given the recent unanimous recommendation from the executive of the All Ireland Senior Rugby Clubs Association that the AIB All-Ireland League first division be reduced from 16 to 10 clubs, with 19 each in Divisions Two and Three. This proposal is to be voted on by all the 48 clubs in early October.
Nevertheless, it would appear the horse has bolted with regard to provincial A games. Of the "11 or 12" A games lined up for this season, although that number could rise, Leinster coach Michael Cheika said Leinster were trying to arrange A games in windows outside of AIB League weeks, but maintained they had their value.
While there was an acceptance a reduced first division ought to increase standards at the top of the club game, Leinster and Lansdowne flanker Niall Ronan, admitted: "To be honest with you I'd rather play an A game than play for my club, and that's no disrespect to my club Lansdowne. If I'm playing an A game and I'm on the fringes of the Leinster team, I can learn the moves, the style of play and then step into the team, rather than play for my club and not be used to the moves. I think 10 teams would improve the AIL but I don't see any problem with the A games."
On his first press conference of the season, ostensibly to announce the Leinster squad to face the Edinburgh Gunners in the province's opening Magners Celtic League game in Murrayfield tomorrow night (kick-off 7.30), Cheika was a little taken aback so much of the questioning focused on the proposed restructuring of the All-Ireland League.
Nonetheless, it is a momentous issue, and without a commitment from the four provincial directors of rugby, Cheika, Declan Kidney, Mark McCall and Michael Bradley, to release those not involved in provincial games that weekend, it doesn't matter what structures apply at club level.
In recent times, that commitment has wilted but our knowledge of Cheika suggests he can only be taken at face value when he cites his time at Randwick as proof of his sympathy and appreciation of the club game. "Our policy, whether it's a 10-team or 16-team competition, is to release as many players as is possible to play club football. We want our players playing games. They are not here to train. That is a clear Leinster policy; has been from the day I got here . . . "
The Leinster coach cited the Old Belvedere backrower Richie Leydon as someone who had "come through the club game and would have been right up there for selection this week had he not picked up a knock".
Leinster's five new signings Harry Vermaas, Trevor Hogan, Owen Finegan, Stephen Keogh and Chris Whitaker are named in the 22-man squad, as is Ireland under-21 backrow Seán O'Brien for the first time as well as Luke Fitzgerald and Ross McCarron. Brian Blaney is ill and misses out. Keith Gleeson, Denis Hickie and Girvan Dempsey could be made available next week.
Asked about where the main threats may come from in the league this season, Cheika singled out Munster. "You can't look past the European champions particularly when you consider how strongly they performed in Cardiff without something like 13 players last weekend."
In light of their hooking mini-crisis, Munster have confirmed former Saracens' hooker Andy Kyriacou has been signed on a contract that will take him up to the end of January.
Following last Saturday's win over the Llanelli Scarlets at Ravenhill McCall has named an unchanged Ulster side for the reigning champions' trip to Newport Gwent Dragons on Saturday.
Connacht have signed 24-year-old prop Brett Sturgess from Northampton after losing Irish under-21 international Ronan Loughney, who suffered a second cruciate ligament injury.
ULSTER (v Dragons, Rodney Parade, Saturday, 7.30): B Cunningham; M Bartholomeusz, P Steinmetz, P Wallace; A Maxwell; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, T Court, J Harrison, T Barker, S Ferris, N McMillan, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, M McCullough, K Dawson, P Marshall, K Maggs, S Young.
LEINSTER SQUAD (v Edinburgh, Murrayfield, Friday, 7.30): M Berne, G Brown, A Byrnes, F Contepomi, R Corrigan, G Easterby, O Finegan, L Fitzgerald, W Green, J Heaslip, T Hogan, B Jackman, R Kearney, S Keogh, K Lewis, R McCarron, R McCormack, S O'Brien, N Ronan, H Vermaas, C Warner, C Whitaker.
MUNSTER SQUAD: Forwards - Tony Buckley, Anthony Foley, Jerry Flannery, Denis Fogarty, Marcus Horan, John Hayes, Andy Kyriacou, Denis Leamy, Eugene McGovern, Tim McGann, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, John O'Sullivan, Federico Pucciariello, Alan Quinlan, Frank Roche, Frank Sheahan, David Wallace, Chris Wyatt. Backs - Christian Cullen, Ian Dowling, Eoghan Hickey, Trevor Halstead, Anthony Horgan, John Kelly, Mossy Lawlor, Barry Murphy, Jeremy Manning, Tomas O'Leary, Ronan O'Gara, Shaun Payne, Peter Stringer.
AUSTRALIA (v South Africa, Saturday): Chris Latham; Clyde Rathbone, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Cameron Shepherd; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt); Benn Robinson, Jeremy Paul, Rodney Blake, Nathan Sharpe, Dan Vickerman, Rocky Elsom, Phil Waugh, Wycliff Palu. Replacements: Tai McIsaac, Al Baxter, Mark Chisholm, George Smith, Brett Sheehan, Mark Gerrard, Scott Staniforth.
