Rugby Union: O'sullivan Starts From Position of Strength

Eddie O'Sullivan - not normally a gambling man - spent yesterday trying to get his head round the fact that Dublin's bookies make his Ireland side hot favourites to beat the team ranked No3 in the world today. "It's interesting times when Ireland are favourites against teams like South Africa," said the head coach, who was reminded earlier in the week that it has happened only twice in 100 years of rugby between the countries.

But the bookies have it right. While O'Sullivan is fielding currently his strongest side, with only one enforced change from the team that played Australia in June, his opposite number Jake White is embarking on a final trawl through some previously unremarkable players in the search for added depth for his World Cup squad.

Most of his star names are back home either resting or mending while White sends out a mixed bag of talents for the first of three games - England play them twice - on an end-of-season European tour. Players who would normally be overjoyed at just making the South African bench will be capped today. The second- row Johan Ackermann has not played for the Boks since 2001 and gave up rugby two years ago, aged 34, convinced he would not add to his eight internationals. And White has selected a back three of Bevin Fortuin, aged 27, at full-back and the wingers Jaco Pretorius, 26, and the 21-year-old François Styne, who do not have a Test cap between them.

Admittedly Bryan Habana, playing out of position, and Jean de Villiers, with 24 caps, add experience to the back line and Andre Pretorius and Ricky Januarie are paired again at half-back but only two remain from the team that beat Australia in September in the final round of the Tri-Nations.

"I suppose there is an element of surprise when you see three new caps in one unit but Jake is obviously confident that they are up to Test standard," O'Sullivan conceded after yesterday's final Irish training session, before adding that in the absence of any Test footage the Irish have been watching videos of the three deEddie O'Sullivan - not normally a gambling man - spent yesterday trying to get his head round the fact that Dublin's bookies make his Ireland side hot favourites to beat the team ranked No3 in the world today. "It's interesting times when Ireland are favourites against teams like South Africa," said the head coach, who was reminded earlier in the week that it has happened only twice in 100 years of rugby between the countries.

But the bookies have it right. While O'Sullivan is fielding currently his strongest side, with only one enforced change from the team that played Australia in June, his opposite number Jake White is embarking on a final trawl through some previously unremarkable players in the search for added depth for his World Cup squad.

Most of his star names are back home either resting or mending while White sends out a mixed bag of talents for the first of three games - England play them twice - on an end-of-season European tour. Players who would normally be overjoyed at just making the South African bench will be capped today. The second- row Johan Ackermann has not played for the Boks since 2001 and gave up rugby two years ago, aged 34, convinced he would not add to his eight internationals. And White has selected a back three of Bevin Fortuin, aged 27, at full-back and the wingers Jaco Pre