Shannon prop John Hayes did not train with the Ireland team yesterday and his fitness remains a serious concern ahead of Saturday's Six Nations Championship game against Wales at Lansdowne Road. Hayes damaged a groin while playing for his club in an AIB League Division One game against DLSP at Kilternan last Saturday.
He retired injured shortly after half-time and immediately received treatment for the problem. His premature departure at Kilternan was originally perceived as precautionary with Ireland manager Donal Lenihan not unduly concerned. Obviously the damage is a little more serious than the first prognosis suggested and the big Shannon tight-head has received intensive treatment over the past 72 hours.
He took no part in the Irish squad training session at Dr Hickey Park yesterday and Lenihan confirmed that a decision on his fitness would be taken this morning ahead of the announcement of the Ireland team. Hayes has adapted superbly to international rugby since winning his first cap against Scotland and his absence would be a significant blow to the team.
Coach Warren Gatland has two options. He could switch Peter Clohessy from loose-head to tight-head and promote Justin Fitzpatrick from the bench or, as seems more likely, call up Lions and Saracens prop Paul Wallace from the A squad. The team management was still hopeful that Hayes would be fit.
David Humphreys was another who took no part in yesterday's session because of flu but it is not expected to prevent him from participating in training today. He will battle with Ronan O'Gara for the starting out-half role.
Better news is that Lansdowne's Shane Horgan took a full part in the session and showed no adverse reaction to the bruised knee that has kept him sidelined for a fortnight. Horgan missed Ireland's win over France in Paris, where his place was taken by Kevin Maggs. One of Horgan, Maggs and Mike Mullins will drop to the A side when the senior and A teams are announced at lunch-time.
Meanwhile Wales, who will also announce their team today, received a further blow with the confirmation that Lions and Llanelli number eight Scott Quinnell will miss the match because of a shoulder injury. It is a long-standing problem which periodically afflicts him. The 31-year-old Cardiff flanker Emyr Lewis has been called into the 22-man squad as replacement.
Lewis has not played since suffering a serious back injury on the tour of Australia in 1996. "I never gave up hope of fighting my way back into the international fold even when I could hardly play any continuous rugby for three years after the injury."
Lewis has been in outstanding form for Cardiff this season and remains Wales most capped back-row forward, with 41. But the best he can hope for is likely to be a place on the bench. Scott Gibbs is standing by awaiting a final fitness report on centre Mark Taylor who was stamped on in a club match at the weekend. Taylor has formed a productive partnership with Allan Bateman in the Welsh midfield and coach Graham Henry is hoping that he will be available. However, Gibbs is a formidable replacement.
Former England prop Jeff Probyn is among five internationals in the Barbarians team for tonight's Mobbs Memorial match against East Midlands at Northampton.
The 41-year-old Probyn joins former Wales scrum-half Robert Jones, wing Simon Hill (Wales), Al Charron (Canada) and Siua Taumalolo (Tonga) in the Barbarians side. The East Midlands side includes 11 Northampton players.
