Ireland set to discard hero Humphreys

The Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan admitted yesterday that he has a selection dilemma at fly-half for Saturday's international against Italy in Rome after the return to fitness of Ronan O'Gara.

David Humphreys scored 26 points in the 36-6 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday, having replaced the injured O'Gara in the side only three days before the match.

"We have the luxury of having two outstanding outside-halves in the squad and it is going to be difficult choosing between them," said O'Sullivan, who added the Lions centre Rob Henderson to the squad after the withdrawal of the wing Shane Horgan through injury.

Humphreys expects O'Gara to return. "Ronan has been the man in possession and he's been playing well," he said. "I'm just delighted that I've put in a performance that's compared to some of his."

O'Sullivan names his side today with John O'Kelly on standby to come in for the full-back Girvan Dempsey who has a hamstring strain.

The Italy coach John Kirwan has been trying to damp down expectation after Saturday's 30-22 victory over Wales in Rome, making his players take ice baths this week to help their blood circulation.

"There is much to work on this week and we must maintain our humility," said Kirwan. "The players must fight in training this week to ensure they take the field against Ireland. We must improve, especially in our concentration."

Scotland have made one change in their 22 after their first home defeat against Ireland for 18 years with the lock Jason White replacing Nathan Hines. "We are looking at tac tical options and Jason's call-up does not reflect any lack of satisfaction with Nathan," said the coach Ian McGeechan.

The French Rugby Union Federation's anti-doping commission will meet on March 5 to rule on the fate of the prop Pieter de Villiers whose positive test for cocaine and ecstasy ruled him out of the Six Nations. De Villiers has decided not to ask for a B test. The South African-born player has suggested that his drinks may have been spiked on a night out in Paris four days before he failed a test during a training session on December 18 last year.

Northampton will play their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse at the 36,500-capacity Stadium Municipal after the French club opted not to host the tie at their Stade Ernest Wallon home, which holds 18,000. Northampton announced a profit of more than £18,000 for the first half of the past financial year, which compared with a loss of nearly £250,000 12 months before.

Scotland squad (v France): Beattie (Bristol), Bulloch (Glasgow), Douglas (Borders), Grimes (Newcastle), Kerr (Leeds), M Leslie (Edinburgh), Mower (Newcastle), Murray (Edinburgh), Scott (Borders), Smith (Northampton), Taylor (Edinburgh), White (Glasgow), Blair (Edinburgh), Craig (Orrell), Laney (Edinburgh), Logan (Wasps), Metcalfe (Glasgow), Paterson (Edinburgh), Redpath (Sale, capt), Ross (Leeds), Townsend (Borders), Utterson (Borders).