Keith Wood completed a full 80 minutes after six weeks on the sidelines in Harlequins' 36-30 defeat by Saracens yesterday and thus increased his chances of returning to captain Ireland against Argentina on Saturday week.
"That would be the ideal and that's what we're hoping for, as long as there's no reaction to his neck problem over the next day or two or again next weekend," said Irish manager Brian O'Brien last night.
Mindful of the Argentinian Test just six days afterwards, the 22-man squad for the Fiji game next Sunday had already shown seven changes in personnel. Brian O'Driscoll, Girvan Dempsey, Reggie Corrigan, Gary Longwell, Keith Gleeson, Denis Hickie and Victor Costello have all been rested for that one, with Justin Bishop, Geordan Murphy, Marcus Horan, Mick O'Driscoll, Kieron Dawson and Eric Miller all called in. Gordon D'Arcy has also been called in to fill the vacancy amongst the outside backs.
In addition, Paul Wallace will have to have his troublesome ankle examined again when the squad assembles in Wicklow tomorrow, although O'Brien said: "We will give Paul every chance."
There was altogether worse news for the Australians in the fall-out from their first defeat at Lansdowne Road in 34 years with the news that Owen Finegan badly dislocated the same right shoulder he'd already had reconstructed.
There are now very real fears this could signal the end of the 30-year-old's playing career. At the very least he would be sidelined for seven months, which would rule him out of the Super 12 campaign and leave him with only the summer international and Tri-Nations to work his way back into the Wallabies' World Cup squad.
It would be particularly sad if Finegan's career was ended in his parents' home country in front of a capacity Lansdowne Road crowd including 44 members of his extended Irish clan. After the World Cup, Finegan had stated his desire to play for the provinces of his parents, Munster or Leinster.
Australian coach Eddie Jones said: "It's going to be difficult for him, there's no doubt about it. Apparently it's his reconstructed shoulder, so it's a recon of a recon. At minimum you're looking at seven months. He's done it before but certainly it's a pretty big challenge for him."
