Leinster trio may stake their claim

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has included four fresh faces with just 10 caps between them in his matchday 22 for the opening Six Nations game against Italy in Croke Park on Saturday week.

In the forwards Munster prop Tony Buckley (two caps) has been named as back-up for first choice frontrows John Hayes and Marcus Horan.  The Leinster trio of Rob Kearney (one), Jamie Heaslip (three) and hooker Bernard Jackman (four) are also included.

Jackman will vie for the number two jersey with Rory Best after Jerry Flannery was banned for eight weeks yesterday, while Heaslip is set to go head to head with Denis Leamy for the number eight jersey.

In all likelihood, however, the starting backrow will have a very familiar look about it with Leamy joined by flankers David Wallace at openside and Simon Easterby at number six.

Of the four locks originally included in the training squad, Leo Cullen has been left out, meaning Malcolm O'Kelly and Mick O'Driscoll are in contention for the free spot beside Donncha O'Callaghan.

There are few surprises in the backline with a number of versatile players named and Shane Horgan being risked in the Ireland 'A' selection to face England the day before after his return from injury.

Girvan Dempsey is likely to start at fullback, with captain Brian O'Driscoll and Leinster team-mate Gordon D'Arcy in the centre, but the coach has options.

Kearney, Leicesters's Geordan Murphy and Andrew Trimble will be in contention for the wing positions, with the more senior pair favourites to start, though the Ulsterman can cover the centre as well.

His provincial team-mate Paddy Wallace is there as back up to outhalf Ronan O'Gara, who will either be supplied by Eoin Reddan or his Munster pal Peter Stringer.

All of which has afforded O'Sullivan a balance of youth and experience in an A team that includes Leinster prop Cian Healy and Luke Fitzgerald partnering Horgan in the centre.

"The A team game gave us the opportunity to give experience to some players at this level and also in particular positions, such as Luke Fitzgerald in the centre as well as Cian Healy and Ryan Caldwell.

"The game also allowed us to give other more experienced players who may not have been starting for the provinces or who were returning from injury , such as Shane Horgan, Trevor Hogan and Alan Quinlan, some valuable game time."

"There were a number of senior players not considered in the A team as we felt that it would be of less benefit to them as they either had enough experience or already had enough games under their belts."

Caldwell, who recently extended his Ulster contract, will join Hogan in the secondrow.  Experienced Munster backrow Quinlan will start at number eight and interestingly there is no place flanker Keith Gleeson, who presumably fell into the category of being experienced enough.

Ireland squad to face Italy

Forwards (12):Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College/Leinster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

Backs (10):Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Ireland A to face England Saxons:Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht); John Murphy (Leicester), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); Andrew Dunne (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Isaac Boss (Ballymena /Ulster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Bryan Young ( Ballymena/Ulster); Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Leinster), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster); Stephen Keogh (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College /Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements:Adrian Flavin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Donncha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), David Pollock (Queens University/Ulster), Chirs Keane (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Niall O'Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Daniel O'Riordan (Buccaneers/Connacht)