Selectors stick with home brew

Slightly contrary to expectations, not one of the overseas' based players were included in the Rest of Ireland line-up to play Munster on Good Friday in Thomond Park. Nonetheless, it is a strong selection which will certainly serve as a useful warm-up exercise for the European Cup semi-finalists as well as being a potentially significant little Lions trial of sorts.

Ultimately, despite initial indications to the contrary from the Irish management, for one reason or another the Lions fringe contenders such as Kieron Dawson, Jeremy Davidson and Geordan Murphy, as well as the certainty, Keith Wood, and probable candidate Rob Henderson, were not asked to be released from the clubs.

Nor were Matt Mostyn and Paul Burke, while Kevin Maggs and the home-based Leo Cullen (due to an impending operation) were ruled out by injury. One exception to this trend was the Llanelli scrum-half Guy Easterby, who is picked on the bench.

Significantly though, the Irish coach Warren Gatland revealed that no requests to have them released for the Thomond Park game on Friday week were made by the Lions' management (all three of whom will be in attendance).

"We probably could have got Henderson and Dawson over but then the better they play in Limerick, the more it could be at the expense of others, or vice versa. They're also better off playing for sides where they know the moves, know the calls and so forth," explained the Irish coach.

Despite the overseas absentees, all bar Shane Horgan of the back division were in the squad which beat France. The pack features the second-row that finished against France, Gary Longwell and Malcolm O'Kelly, as well as an all-international back-row of Eric Miller, Victor Costello and Andy Ward.

Regarding the Lions, in addition to the Munster hopefuls such as Ronan O'Gara, Peter Clohessy, John Hayes and Peter Stringer, it looks a timely chance for the likes of Denis Hickie and Eric Miller.

Munster hope to select their side early next week. As things stand Alan Quinlan and David Wallace are definitely ruled out, while Dion O'Cuinneagain will not be able to fly until the day after the Good Friday friendly. Also, it looks increasingly as if Anthony Foley's slightly torn knee ligament will rule him out of the match. With the Lions in mind, that's bad timing for him and particularly worrisome for the Munster management, given the proximity of the ensuing European Cup semi-final.

REST OF IRELAND (v Munster, Thomond Park, April 13th): G Dempsey (Terenure); D Hickie (St Mary's), B O'Driscoll (Blackrock), Shane Horgan (Lansdowne), T Howe (Ballymena); D Humphreys (Dungannon, capt), B O'Meara (Cork Constitution); J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), S Byrne (Blackrock), S Best (Belfast Harlequins), G Longwell (Ballymena), M O'Kelly (St. Mary's), E Miller (Terenure), A Ward (Ballynahinch), V Costello (St. Mary's). Replacements: P Smyth (St Mary's), M Cahill (Buccaneers), B Casey (Blackrock), T McWhirter (Dungannon).

FRANCE (v England): J-L Sadourny (Colomiers); P Bernat-Salles (Biarritz), X Garbajosa (Toulouse), S Glas (Bourgoin), C Dominici (Stade Francais); G Merceron (Montferrand), F Galthie (Colomiers); S Marconnet (Stade Francais), R Ibanez (Castres), P De Villiers (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Bourgoin), A Benazzi (Agen), C Milheres (Biarritz), O Magne (Montferrand), F Pelous (Toulouse, capt). Replacements: F Landreau (Stade Francais), A Galasso (Montferrand), D Auradou (Stade Francais), T Lievremont (Biarritz), P Carbonneau (Pau), D Skrela (Colomiers), T Lombard (Stade Francais).