Familiar look to Irish squad

RUGBY: Six Nations Championship In trimming down his 35-man squad to 24 for the opening RBS Six Nations game away to Wales, Eddie O'Sullivan underlined how difficult it is to break into the established pecking order of Ireland's frontline Test players.

After the excellent autumnal wins over South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands, this is hardly surprising.

But for the injury to Shane Horgan, and the return from injury of Jerry Flannery, conceivably it could have been the same 22 that was on duty against the Springboks and the Wallabies with a couple of additional options at hooker and in the secondrow due to concerns over Malcolm O'Kelly's knee troubles and the slight calf strains Frankie Sheahan and Rory Best have sustained.

Hence, Mick O'Driscoll is included as a fourth lock, a recognition as much of his game time with Munster of late in the European Heineken Cup as his actual form, for when playing he is clearly regarded as amongst the top quartet of secondrows. Munster's selection of O'Driscoll at blindside flanker to the exclusion of Anthony Foley was the cause of some debate, but ironically it has probably facilitated his recall ahead of Trevor Hogan and Matt McCullough.

In his understandable eagerness to have Flannery back on board after just two outings as a replacement, albeit encouraging ones, O'Sullivan is hoping the hooker plays for Shannon in the AIL this Saturday against UCD in Thomond Park given Munster are idle in the Magners Celtic League. It would seem like a strong signal that Flannery will make the 22 against Wales, and all things being equal would probably start.

"It's just a reflection of form really," said O'Sullivan yesterday of his squad selection. "I suppose there's a familiar look to it. They're all guys who have been in very good form. Hooker will become a difficult decision and the backrow is always competitive. Guys like Jamie Heaslip and Keith Gleeson have been playing very well.

"Eoin Reddan is back in good form again and it was a tough call to leave him out but Isaac Boss has got the bit between his teeth again. There were other hard calls to make but I'm glad of the strength in depth we have.

"There are going to be five games in seven weeks and there are probably going to be casualties. One man's injury is another man's opportunity, not that you'd wish any injuries, but they're probably going to happen."

O'Sullivan spoke of the "paradigm shift" in Ireland's game over the preceding two Six Nations campaigns, when Ireland went from the team that kicked the most and passed the least to the other way.

"It doesn't mean we can't kick to the corners through Rog (Ronan O'Gara) if we have to, who knows finger tip rugby mightn't be an option," he said, nodding toward the snow-covered lawns of the Hurlingham Club yesterday, "but we have more blend to the side in terms of how we play and we have that capacity to change."

That said, he maintained that Ireland would have to improve on their form of last November, "because if you don't you're liable to go backwards".

Mick O'Driscoll's recall, after being excluded from the autumnal series simply because he wasn't playing enough for Munster, was recognition of his recent run in the team. "He's a good player and it's rewarding a guy for his form."

O'Kelly, he admitted, is a concern. "He had to come off the last day with a sore knee and it's a chronic injury. It's quite sore and he's been struggling this week. We're not as concerned about the calf strains which Rory Best and Frankie Sheahan have picked up."

O'Sullivan lamented the absence of Shane Horgan, his one major casualty from the weekend's first quadruple defeat for the provinces in a decade in Europe, but is relieved that the injury wasn't worse.

"Our first thoughts were that he had ruptured his cruciate ligament so we're very relieved. He's been in great form, playing great rugby, and with over 50 caps he will be tough to replace. But all going well he could be coming back for the third game (at home to England).

"Shane is a player who can play centre and wing. He's very much the number three centre so I was looking to bring in someone who can play centre and wing. There are good options and guys like Luke Fitzgerald and Tommy Bowe are unlucky to miss out because they are playing well."

The Irish coach's most difficult decisions have in effect been deferred until next week, namely - in addition to hooker - choosing between Neil Best and Simon Easterby at blindside flanker and in perming his outside three from Andrew Trimble, Girvan Dempsey, Geordan Murphy and Denis Hickie, who each started one of the two Tests against the southern hemisphere heavyweights last November.

Ireland (squad v Wales)

Forwards

Neil Best (Ulster)

Rory Best (Ulster)

Simon Best (Ulster)

Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

Jerry Flannery (Munster)

John Hayes (Munster)

Marcus Horan (Munster)

Denis Leamy (Munster)

D O'Callaghan (Munster)

Paul O'Connell (Munster)

Mick O'Driscoll (Munster)

Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster)

Frankie Sheahan (Munster)

David Wallace (Munster)

Backs

Isaac Boss (Ulster)

Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster)

Girvan Dempsey (Leinster)

Denis Hickie (Leinster)

Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)

Ronan O'Gara (Munster)

Peter Stringer (Munster)

Andrew Trimble (Ulster)

Paddy Wallace (Ulster)