Nowlan and Halvey fail to make squad

The Irish management yesterday rounded up many of the usual suspects and quite a few new ones when they named a squad of 47 for the season's first international get-together in Greystones next week.

As expected, the touring party which went to South Africa provides the bulk of the squad, with 33 of the 36 who took part in that tour retaining their places. A further nine home-based players have also been invited to attend, as well as a quintet of overseas players who were ruled out of the summer tour.

The three players from the South African tour to miss out are Ciaran Clarke, who has been sidelined with an achilles injury, and the front row pair of Des Clohessy and Bernard Jackman, neither of whom have impressed the selectors sufficiently from their limited opportunities at provincial level so far.

There are a few eye-catching selections among the newcomers. Gordon Darcy (18), the Irish schools full back last year, is included along with Conor O'Shea as one of only two out-and-out full backs.

Confined primarily to the Leinster A side this season, D'Arcy made one try-scoring substitute's appearance for the Leinster senior side against Edinburgh Reivers. Also included is Girvan Dempsey, a converted full back who has been near faultless on the wing for Leinster.

They are chosen ahead of Kevin Nowlan, even though Leinster's first-choice full back currently leads the interpro try-scoring chart with four tries in four games. "We've been impressed with Kevin's form going forward, but we still have some concerns about his defence," explained coach Warren Gatland.

Leinster's surge to the top of the interpro table is, however, reflected in the inclusion of 12 players from the province. That compares with nine from Munster, seven from Ulster and four from Connacht. There are 14 English-based players, plus Jeremy Davidson who plays in France with Castres.

The emergence of a new crop of centres is highlighted by the presence of Shane Horgan, as well as the Connacht pair of Mervyn Murphy and Pat Duignan. Leinster's impressive scrum has been recognised by the inclusion of the entire front row of Emmet Byrne, Shane Horgan and Angus McKeen. "We have to be seen to reward players in form," reasoned Gatland.

Davidson, Eric Miller, Ross Nesdale, Kieron Dawson and David Erskine return to the fold after missing the South African tour.

Aside from Nowlan, the other eyebrow-raising exclusion is that of Eddie Halvey. First-choice flanker this time last year when picked for the international against New Zealand, Halvey's graph has declined to the point where he is no longer amongst the top 10 back-row players.