back-line player

Newcastle Falcons' Santi Socino chipped in with one, as did skipper Gareth Nesbit and Aussie back-line player Jacob Woodhouse.

The Scarlet Hawks went up by as many as four, 21-17, but Newton North (19-2) fought back and Milford needed a clutch placement shot from back-line player Sean Varney on a broken play to clinch the crucial first set.

Roly Reid returns from wing to back-row but Dixon said: "This is only a temporary thing and there is every intention of developing him as a back-line player."

So given that he is playing well in the Aviva Premiership for Bath, given that he has skills and vision which no other back-line player in the current Wales squad possesses, why is the notion of his inclusion so out of the question to some?

Cimoch is an excellent back-line player, while Crompton excels at the net.

An experienced back-line player with a leading French club is on their wanted list, but the move hinges on wages being made available.

And he acknowledges that he's only back because Dempsey, who O'Sullivan yesterday described as Ireland's most consistent back-line player at these finals, has a shoulder injury.

"For the last two or three weeks of last year we were pretty much down to our last back-line player, and it just meant we could not rest any of the lads who were tired through the number of games they had played."

"He has brought in a load of new moves involving each and every back-line player and, while it might take time to get right, there were good signs.

Maggs, who lines out against Australia today with the reputation as Ireland's most physical back-line player, was disappointed not to make the quarter-finals of the tournament four years ago when Argentina knocked out the boys in green.

Newcastle retain an interest in an experienced back-line player currently plying their trade with a French Top 14 side, although The Journal understands that the deal will not become a realistic possibility until funds are made available by current squad members being released.