The hectic pre-deadline activity having passed - Tuesday having been described variously as "unbelievable" and "horrendous" by various management personnel - Ireland's four provinces unveiled their hands for their forthcoming European campaigns yesterday.
As expected, there was confirmation of a few last-ditch signings of players from the southern hemisphere, albeit mixed with some interesting cross-boundary acquisitions, with both Munster and Ulster dipping into Leinster to complete their 30-man squads.
The need to fill a total of 136 places between the four provinces, including four back-up front-row men each, stretched resources to the limit and invariably there was some crossovers. The tug-of-war over James Blaney between his native Leinster, who wanted him as part of their reserve quartet, and Munster was resolved with the Terenure hooker's inclusion ahead of John Fogarty in the southern province's squad. Other Munster newcomers are the relatively experienced Old Crescent back-rower David Bowles and the ex-Crescent and now Dolphin centre Barry O'Neill.
Explaining Blaney's surprise inclusion above Fogarty and Gerry Flannery, Munster manager Jerry Holland said: "Both those players have done very well while they've been with us but we feel they need a full year of senior rugby before being exposed to European rugby. They are definitely players for the future while Blaney has that little more experience."
Kevin Putt and Eddie Hekenui, Leinster's Kiwi half-backs who were signed just before the ERC registration deadline, are thrown straight into the starting line-up for their debuts against Connacht at the Sportsground in Saturday's Interprovincial Championship match. Relieved to be selecting from a near full-strength squad, save for the injured Shane Horgan, Matt Williams has made five changes in personnel and three positional switches from what he conceded was a "very, very unacceptable performance" in the 26-13 defeat by Ulster last Friday.
Emmet Byrne and Victor Costello return from injury, with Eric Miller reverting to number six, and Peter McKenna comes in at fullback with Girvan Dempsey and Mark McHugh switching to the left wing and inside centre. Gary Halpin, Trevor Brennan, Brian O'Meara, Nathan Turner and Gordon D'Arcy (whose persistent back and hamstring problems are still troubling him) drop to the bench.
The 24-year-old Hekenui, a one-time New Zealand Colts outhalf and recently with Otago A - which Williams compared to our provinces in standard - is a strongly built playmaker who is, crucially, also a proven goalkicker, and already becomes Leinster's fourth outhalf in four matches this season. That said, Williams admitted "we wouldn't be doing this if Emmet Farrell wasn't injured."
Describing Putt as "an excellent general", Williams hopes that the experienced former Waikato, Natal Sharks and London Irish scrumhalf can fill the role vacated by Stu Forster after returning to Terenure following a 10-year absence in a player-coaching role. Their paths have crossed before, ironically when a try by Putt helped Natal into the Super 12 semi-finals at the expense of Williams' New South Wales Waratahs three years ago, "and I've got great, great respect for him."
A cruel irony for Derek Hegarty, fully contracted and the incumbent Terenure scrumhalf, is that he misses the 30-man cut, as do Farrell and John McWeeney through injury, not to mention Simon Broughton. The promising Trinity wing James Norton is thus included, as is Ross Doyle ahead of Richard Woods, whom Williams admitted was unlucky and is probably only a year away, as openside back-up to Liam Toland.
This takes to 10 the number of St Mary's players in Leinster's squad. Echoing the sentiments of his counterparts, Williams admitted that taking such decisions was "the worst aspect" of his job, but "we have to be fair to the best interests of the team."
Added interest to Saturday's game is ensured by Connacht's inclusion of new South African signing Wayne Munn at fullback, in their sole change. Connacht also include another recent signing in their European squad in the Buccaneers, ex-Bristol winger cum full-back Darren Yapp, highly recommended by Bob Dwyer. Connacht, too, have raided Leinster for St Mary's prop David Clare.
Similarly, Ulster include the Terenure prop John Campbell, Aidan Kearney (the close-season Dungannon signing from UCD) and the UCD outhalf Paddy Wallace in their squad. For tomorrow's interprovincial showdown with Munster, Shane Stewart replaces the injured Tyrone Howe on the wing while Paddy Johns returns to the second row.
For all the stretched resources, and even allowing for other sidelined players such as Paul O'Connell, there remain notable absentees from the 136 named yesterday, such as Des Dillon, Paul Neville and the well-regarded Lansdowne back-rower Aidan McCullen. He had featured for Leinster in pre-season, and had been sounded out by Munster and Connacht, but apparently he is doing a masters and has been troubled by a back related groin/hamstring problem.
Matt Dawson is back in the England squad but Leicester lock Martin Johnson was handed the captaincy yesterday as coach Clive Woodward finalises his plans for a tough autumn Test campaign.
Dawson led England to their Six Nations title last season when Johnson was injured, only for the Lions skipper to take command during the summer when his international team-mate was struck down by a shoulder problem ahead of the South Africa tour.
Wasps back-row Lawrence Dallaglio was also an outside contender to reclaim the leadership but Woodward decided that Johnson should lead the 30-man squad, who will face world champions Australia at Twickenham on November 18th, followed by clashes with Argentina and South Africa the following weekends.
Leicester duo Tim Stimpson and Leon Lloyd are the main omissions from the summer tour party, when England exceeded expectations to earn a 1-1 series draw.
Three uncapped players have been named, including Sale skipper Alex Sanderson, who has been an integral part of the Cheshire club's impressive start to the new Premiership season.
