Don't get me wrong. I've nothing but admiration for the way he went out and tried his best last Sunday, but there are one of two things missing. They are stamina and game-awareness and it is going to take months to put them there.

At the end of it, you might have a serviceable reserve team winger - but what, apart from giving a new lease of life for the publicity circus, would be the point?

Having said that, he seems a genuine bloke and I was glad to see him get through without serious injury or embarrasment. Now is the time to call a halt.

Irish times

There was a decent turn-out this week for an update on the Irish plans for the World Cup. With Tonga and Samoa to play, you might take the view that they are only going to make up the numbers, but that is not the mood.

With Carnegie backing a five-year development programme, tying in with an expanded, 16-team domestic competition, Ireland see the tournament as a springboard for the future of the game in their country.

With that in mind, Andy Kelly needs to get his selection right. He has pretty much promised the team that qualified that they are not going to be dumped and he has to include six players from the Irish comp. That only leaves room for five newcomers from those jockeying for position. One or two are obvious, like Wigan's Pat Richards, whose mum and dad were both born in Dublin. Others, like Brett White and Luke Rooney, have been in full Aussie squads but are putting themselves forward for their 'other country'.

A couple of prominent Irish union players have also thrown their big, green hats in the ring. Kelly has got to be interested, but he is surely right to insist that they must play some league this summer before they are considered. The great thing is that there is plenty of league there for them to play. I was over there a couple of times last year and couldn't help being impressed with the progress they have made. They're certainly well beyond the stage of playing the game to keep fit for union.

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