It's early days yet, but London Irish and Eddie Halvey are enjoying a honeymoon period. Asked about the performances of his quintet of Irishmen in the opening day 2216 win over Harlequins last Saturday, the Exiles coach Dick Best began with an assessment of his new Munster flanker - "He was bordering on outstanding."
By all accounts, London Irish employed Halvey in a fairly loose role, as something of an auxiliary midfield back in both defence and attack. "All our back rowers have pace, even the guys on the bench, so we ask our backs to do some forward work so as to free them up. We want to use his pace and his strength with the ball in hand. He's an exceptional all-round forward."
Halvey's virtues on the opposition throw are renowned and according to Best his flanker nicked a couple of trademark throws off the opposition hooker, none other than Harlequin's prodigal captain Keith Wood, on his return debut. "I'd also say he made more tackles on Woody than anybody else. I didn't know you Irish were that close."
No summer transfer would have raised more eyebrows in Ireland than Halvey's, Best having made the player an offer he couldn't refuse after Halvey had rejected the initial one. But on the premise that Best likes characters he'll love Halvey and the coach duly notes that Halvey is "a different kettle of fish".
"He's a free spirit, which I find quite nice, that Corinthian sort of attitude. Everybody knows he wouldn't be the best disposed towards training but we're managing him as an individual and he's gradually coming around to our way of thinking. He was the last player to join us in August but basically I think that he could certainly be a Lion if he gets his act together. He needs to get his strength levels up and his aerobic levels up, but he knows that."
"He has a big contribution to make and so far he's proving very popular with the players and the club. Watching him last Saturday I said to somebody I can't believe he's only won eight caps. He's a wonderful footballer with tons of pace but he's got to play well because he's under intense pressure for his place. He's made a good start. Let's see how it's going in February, when the weather is foul and I'm in a bad mood," says Best.
Of the remainder, Best was almost equally as pleased with the displays of Conor O'Shea, Justin Bishop, Kieron Campbell and Kieron Dawson, whose workrate was typically high on his return for a first outing since April following an operation on a hip muscle tear, all of which was watched by Irish assistant coach Eddie O'Sullivan.
Observing this increased Irish presence, Best noted the "good feeling" within the club after the big summer turnover in players at Sunbury and their "very worthwhile" pre-season week in Kenmare, courtesy of club sponsors Aer Lingus, and a round of golf at the Ring of Kerry golf club. The Harlequins' fixture at the Stoop was something of a grudge match given their landlords had evicted them from the venue after a year. "There was a boycott by the supporters so everybody went back to Sunbury for a party, including 95 per cent of the players."
Their "Irish" representation should be increased on Saturday at Northampton, when Warren Gatland is likely to be in attendance, in the expectation that Barry Everitt will be fit enough to be named on the bench after a summer groin operation.
Internationals Paddy Johns and Jonathan Bell make their seasonal reappearances following injuries in Ulster's fourth and final warm-up game against English club side Rugby Lions at Ravenhill tomorrow night. The onus will be on Bell particularly to produce a big performance given the reportedly impressive pre-season form of Ulster's new midfield recruit from Saracens, the Kiwi centre Ryan Constable, and the newly-contracted Shane Stewart.
Jan Cunningham, Sheldon Coulter, Niall Malone, and Derek Topping also come into the starting line-up, as does Richie Weir for last weekend's broken-leg victim Allen Clarke, in a much-changed and seemingly experimental line-up.
Ulster (v Rugby Lions): G Henderson; J Cunningham, S Stewart, J Bell, S Coulter; N Malone, B Free; S Best, R Weir, J Campbell, M Blair, P Johns, R Nelson, T McWhirter (capt), D Topping. Replacements: J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, C Boyd, G Longwell, A Ward, S Bell, D Humphreys, R Constable, J Topping, T Howe, C McCarey.
The South African rugby team for the Tri-Nations clash against Australia in Durban on Saturday shows one change from the side which beat New Zealand in Johannesburg last weekend.
Loosehead-prop Robbie Kempson, who has recovered from influenza, returns in place of Ollie le Roux. There are no positional changes, but on the bench, Le Roux replaces Willy Meyer.
South Africa (Tri-Nations v Australia): T Delport; C Williams, G Esterhuizen, R Fleck, B Paulse; B van Straaten, W Swanepoel; A Vos (capt), C Krige, R Erasmus, M Andrews, A Venter, C Visagie, C Marais, R Kempson. Replacements: J Smit, O le Roux, A van den Bergh, W Brosnihan, J van der Westhuizen, J van der Westhuyzen, P Montgomery.
