Payne In Line For Ireland Cap ?

The double injury blow Ireland suffered in the opening RBS Six Nations game against Italy in Rome on Sunday means that Munster centre Shaun Payne must be in line for his first cap

The double injury blow Ireland suffered in the opening RBS Six Nations game against Italy in Rome on Sunday means that Munster centre Shaun Payne must be in line for his first cap when the Irish take on Scotland in Murrayfield next weekend.

After centre Gordon D’Arcy retired injured with a hamstring injury in the 33rd minute, O’Driscoll also suffered hamstring injury late in the game and Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan admitted that both would be doubtful for next weeks match. ” Gordon will be under terrible to be right for next weekend, Brian, I don’t know yet but it doesn’t look great.”, he said.

The option open to O’Sullivan, in the event that just D’Arcy is ruled out, is to bring Kevin Maggs in at 12. He might also look at moving Shane Horgan into the centre and using Payne or Tommy Bowe on the wing, but given that his starting line-up for Sunday had Horgan and Hickie on the wings then he would probably opt to leave Horgan where he is to ensure the minimum of upset to his preferred backline formation.

However if both D’arcy and O’Driscoll fail to make it off the treatment table, then Payne must, going on his form this season and indeed last, surely be picked either at 13 or on the wing.