Fitzgerald one of four uncapped in Irish squad

Autumn International SeriesIreland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has drafted four uncapped players into his 32-man squad for the autumn series of international matches against South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands, next month.

Leinster teenager Luke Fitzgerald continues his stratospheric rise in the game from schoolboy last season to a possible international player. Not far behind him in making big moves forward is the impressive Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris.

O'Sullivan was at hand in Ravenhill Road last Saturday to watch the 21-year-old Ferris take on and impress against Toulouse in Ulster's triumphant opening Heineken European Cup match. Both he and Fitzgerald are joined by the more seasoned but still uncapped Leinster number eight Jamie Heaslip and Paddy Wallace.

Wallace has being playing outside David Humphreys in Ulster's recent games but is also regarded as an outhalf, while Heaslip has been putting together a string of impressive performances at the back of the Leinster scrum.

Of the four Fitzgerald is the only player not starting for his province but clearly O'Sullivan, like most others, enjoys what he sees and with age being a bearing the young winger, who just turned 19 last month, can only benefit from the company.

There are several players who return to the squad after missing the Ireland mini camp in September. In the forwards, Munster prop John Hayes returns having recovered from an ankle injury, while fellow prop Simon Best makes his first appearance in an Ireland squad since the Six Nations Championship last year.

Best broke his leg in a Celtic League match at the end of last season and missed out on the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Irish and Lions secondrow Malcolm O'Kelly also delivers a significant payload of experience to the squad, having recovered from a groin injury and put in some aggressive games for Leinster.

In the backs, Gordon D'Arcy is no surprise inclusion after last weekend's European Cup performance but is named after missing the September camp due to a shoulder injury, while John Kelly, who was originally selected in September but had to pull out due to injury, also makes a return to the squad.

"The November games represent a big challenge for this squad and are really the beginning of our build up to next year's World Cup," said O'Sullivan.

"Playing two of the top ranked countries in the world and also a talented Pacific Islands side packed with the best players from three countries will really test the team and this squad.

"The games will also give us the opportunity to look at our options in certain positions before we head into the Six Nations and the World Cup next year.

"As always the squad is selected on form and with the provinces playing so well in the Heineken Cup, there were some very tough calls, particularly in the back five of the forwards.

"There were some great performances from so many players and there are several who were very unlucky not to make the cut."

Some notable names omitted from the group are Munster backrow Anthony Foley, who was not included in the summer squad, along with provincial colleagues Alan Quinlan and Mick O'Driscoll and Leicester secondrow Leo Cullen.

"The return of some of the players who missed out on our September camp is also welcomed as it will give us the experience that we will need going into three big weekends and will pretty much allow us to pick from a full hand, with the exception of Tommy Bowe, Johnny O'Connor and Jerry Flannery," added O'Sullivan.

"Stephen (Ferris) has played himself into what is a very competitive Ulster backrow and has benefited from the game time in the Magners League and Heineken Cup. We felt that it was a good time to bring him up to the next level to have a closer look at him and to see how he has progressed."

After hobbling off in Ulster's game last Saturday with a recurrence of a hamstring injury, Tommy Bowe is not considered. The Ulster winger is likely to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

Munster hooker Jerry Flannery, who has a shoulder injury, and Wasps' flanker Johnny O'Connor, with an neck injury, are also excluded.

IRELAND SQUAD

FORWARDS (17)

Neil Best (Ulster)

Rory Best (Ulster)

Simon Best(Ulster)

Simon Easterby(Llaneli)

Stephen Ferris(Ulster)

Keith Gleeson(Leinster)

John Hayes (Munster)

Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Marcus Horan (Munster)

Denis Leamy(Munster)

Matt McCullough (Ulster)

Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster)

Paul O'Connell(Munster)

Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster)

Frankie Sheahan(Munster)

David Wallace (Munster)

Bryan Young (Ulster)

BACKS (15)

Isaac Boss (Ulster)

Girvan Dempsey(Leinster)

Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster)

Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster)

Shane Horgan (Leinster)

Denis Hickie(Leinster)

John Kelly (Munster)

Geordan Murphy(Leicester)

Brian O'Driscoll(Leinster)

Ronan O'Gara(Munster)

Eoin Reddan (Wasps)

Jeremy Staunton(Wasps)

Peter Stringer (Munster)

Andrew Trimble (Ulster)

Paddy Wallace (Ulster)