Ireland's stars back on Slam trail

Chris Jones13 April 2012

Ireland captain Keith Wood can take his country a step closer to Grand Slam glory against Scotland at Murrayfield tomorrow while his Harlequins team-mates attempt to convince the doubters that another season of relegation worries can be avoided.

Victory in this game, the first of the three matches that will complete last season?s Six Nations championship which was postponed due to the footand-mouth crisis, will be vital for Ireland?s title hopes. They meet Wales in Cardiff on 13 October and then face a potential Grand Slam decider with England in Dublin a week later.

There will be an air of unreality at Murrayfield, not only are we playing championship matches at the wrong time of the year, but many of the players have hardly started the new season, particularly those who played for the Lions in Australia during the summer.

However, Scotland coach Ian McGeechan said: ?The players are excited about the match because they are playing for Scotland. I would be disappointed if they didn?t feel that way.?

Back in England, Quins take on arch rivals London Wasps at the Stoop in the Zurich Premiership, still searching for a first win. They face a team that has swapped a second-place finish last season for a second from bottom position early in this campaign.

Flirting with relegation was Quins? lot last season before an appearance in the Tetley?s Bitter Cup final and then victory in the European Shield transformed their fortunes. Wasps had a much better season, keeping the pressure on Leicester and confirming their status as London?s most consistent league outfit.

Now, racked by injury, Wasps arrive at the Stoop without Kenny Logan whose knee injury in the defeat by Sale cost him a chance of another Scotland cap against Ireland. Wasps and England hooker Phil Greening will return after injury while Quins are missing Wood and Will Greenwood, their Lions centre, whose injured ankle will finally be ready for action against Bridgend in the Heineken Cup next weekend.

Quins have delayed selection in a bid to get back-row men Tony Diprose and Pat Sanderson fit to face a Wasps side that includes Rory Jenkins, who left the Stoop for Loftus Road in the summer.

Unbeaten London Irish are home to Newcastle on Sunday minus flanker Keiron Dawson, who will be in action for Ireland against Scotland and his place is taken by the England Under-21 back-rower Declan Danaher.

Club captain Conor O?Shea, who has been out of action since November, has had a third operation to try and rectify an ankle injury. The 30-year-old will consult a surgeon next week about the success of the operation and it is hoped the Ireland full-back will be back in three months. Irish squad rotation means that Neal Hatley, Richard Kirke and Rob Hardwick replace last weekend?s starting front row while Eddie Halvey takes over from Richard Bates on the replacements? bench.

Saracens take on Northampton, also on Sunday, without wing Tom Shanklin and scrum-half Kyran Bracken who is resting a neck injury sustained in the win over Bath. That will pit his England rival Matt Dawson against Nick Walshe, who has been included in the England squad.

Northampton are minus four key players who are on duty for Scotland, centre John Leslie, props Tom Smith and Mattie Stewart and Budge Pountney, who will captain the Scots. The removal of those front-row players will offer some comfort to Sarries who will feature young props Luke Harbut and Sean Phillips as they continue their first-team education.

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