Sharp calls off but Watt can jump at the chance

team for the Royal Bank international against Ireland at Murrayfield

tomorrow, and Alan Watt, the 18st. 3lb Glasgow High/Kelvinside forward,

was called in for his second cap, though his first at loose head.

On Wednesday evening Sharp was said to be fit for his international

debut after two work-outs that day had tested his bruised left calf, but

yesterday Bill Hogg, the Scottish Rugby Union secretary, reporting the

change, explained that the Bristol prop's injured leg had reacted to the

previous day's hard training. The secretary described Sharp's lower left

leg as ''solid.''

Watt, once described by the national selectors as not being tall

enough at 6ft 5in. to be an international lock, is in only his third

season as a prop. For most of that time he was learning the tight head's

trade, and it was as right prop that he had his only previous

international, when Scotland beat Zimbabwe 51-12 at Murrayfield in the

1991 World Cup.

He played in the non-cap Tests against the United States and Canada on

the 1991 tour to North America, and he also went with Scotland to

Australia last year. In all, he played in eight of the 14 games on those

two tours, all at tight head.

Only two months ago, however, the national selectors conceded the

argument that accommodating his height and bulk at tight head was too

much for Watt, but they still saw a role for him in the front row. GHK's

coach, Brian Gilbert, accepted that Watt should be tried on the left,

and so it is that the one-time lock has been transformed into an

international loose head.

At almost two stones heavier than Sharp, Watt's weight ought to be a

bonus for the Scots, especially as he will be up against the bulkiest

Irish forward, the 17st. 12lb. Paul McCarthy, but that is not all that

the GHK forward could bring to the pack. He adds an option to Scotland's

lineout resources as front jumper, and if he is fired by this sudden

call to his country's cause, as he ought to be, he should be a bonus

outside the set-piece. Watt has it in his own hands to rise to the

occasion and recall those days when he was a lock of high promise.

Watt was already on hand when Sharp pulled out yesterday morning. The

GHK forward had been added to the squad the previous evening as a

precaution, and the Scots' Murrayfield practice was only briefly set

back to accommodate the alteration.

Afterwards the SRU secretary reported that the private practice was

''a good session.'' The Scots will be back at Murrayfield this morning

for a public work-out, but Ireland completed their preparations before

they flew to Edinburgh last night. They have no injury worry, and they

do not intend having a practice today.

Noel Murphy, Ireland's team manager, warned the Scots not to expect a

pushover. ''We are going out to win with full determination,'' he

declared. Michael Bradley, restored as Ireland's captain and scrum half,

echoed his manager's confidence, though he conceded Scotland would start

favourites. ''They have home advantage and also have players who have

been winning regularly,'' he said.

* Bill McLaren on the new-look pack -- Page 42.