Opportunity Knocks For Quinlan and Murphy

Opportunity knocks for Alan Quinlan and Barry Murphy if as expected they are named later today in the Irish side for the second Test next Saturday against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

Quinlan, whose Ireland career has been dogged by injury since dislocating his shoulder in the World Cup victory over Argentina in Australia – in the process of scoring a crucial try – has been in superb form for Munster this season, will be hoping to deliver a performance that will see him progress his claims for a place in Eddie O’Sullivan’s World Cup squad.

He does face stiff opposition in his quest for a World Cup berth. Given that Simon Easterby, David Wallace and Denis Leamy are already shoe-ins for inclusion, his rivals for a place in the squad include Neil Best, Stephen Ferris, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip and Quinlan is under no illusions about what’s required. “I realise I’m in a lucky place now to be here in Argentina. There are a lot of good players left at home, involved in the Churchill Cup, lads like Stephen Keogh, Roger Wilson and Johnny O’Connor and Eddie (O’Sullivan) has said their performances will be considered when the squad is being decided. 

“I know I’m down the pecking order as things stand but I hope to get an opportunity maybe to change that if I get selected for Saturday. There is a pressure to perform, of curse there is, but I just hope I get that opportunity.”

Murphy’s area is equally competitive with his soon to be Munster teammate Kieran Lewis and the revitalised Gavin Duffy other contenders for World Cup inclusion while there is every chance that we may see Brian Carney again selected after his try-scoring debut last Saturday and if he continues to perform as he has done Carney will be spending the autumn in France.