O'Cuinneagain gives extra options

No surprises, but then there were never likely to be, given Saturday's largely impressive victory over Scotland. The 22 on duty that day have been retained with Bath centre Kevin Maggs and former Ireland captain Dion O'Cuinneagain expanding the squad for the match against Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week to 24 players.

Maggs was an original choice for the initial squad prior to the Scotland match but withdrew due to a hamstring injury. He has been reinstated on the proviso that he passes a fitness test on Monday, when the party is due to convene. O'Cuinneagain's inclusion is a recognition of his performance in the A international at Donnybrook last Friday week and, as Ireland coach Warren Gatland pointed out, a chance to utilise his specific talents in the Italian game.

"I think it's fair to say that Dion's inclusion is a something of a horses-for-courses selection. The team that will play Italy may be a bit different from the one that will take the field against France. The physical nature of the opposition will be taken into account. In one case we will be looking to exploit the attacking attributes of some players and in the other it will be a case of looking at those with greater defensive qualities."

The Irish coach will take in Shannon's AIL Division One game against Ballymena at Thomond Park when O'Cuinneagain will oppose the present Ireland number eight Anthony Foley, an interesting aside to the main event. Gatland has watched the Scottish video two or three times since the weekend and his immediate impressions were confirmed.

"I was pleased with the overall performance, virtually every aspect from tackling to creating chances. The players worked really hard and deserved their reward. Obviously the beginning and end of the match were a little disappointing and these are areas that we will address when we come together next week.

"We had a chance to go for the jugular and put them (Scotland) away but we didn't do that. That is the sign of a really good team when you just keep going no matter what's on the scoreboard already. We wanted to move the ball in the England game but didn't get any so we couldn't. The Scots wouldn't have learnt a great deal from our display that day and so we were able to persevere with the things that we were trying to do.

"We want to move the ball effectively and I think we did the last day. Our defence was a lot stronger which was pleasing." The arrival of the Italians next week is likely to provoke huge expectation: Italy's heavy defeat by Wales and Ireland's performance against Scotland are the twin catalysts for the unbridled optimism.

The pressure on Gatland therefore becomes seamless. Victory should be the only barometer of success but the expectation is that it should be achieved with elan, not altogether realistic as Gatland explains: "I watched the Wales-Italy video and I don't think the referee did them (Italy) any favours. They had two or three tries disallowed and also suffered a very heavy penalty count against them.

"I don't think they are the worst side in the world. They beat Scotland and the match last weekend flattered Wales. The result is hugely important. We would like to be able to beat them well but certainly won't be taking anything for granted."

Leicester utility back Geordan Murphy has been added to the Ireland A squad along with Shannon flanker Alan Quinlan while Killian Keane replaces Buccaneers' centre Mel Deane on merit. Murphy is another who will have to undergo a stringent medical examination on Monday to ascertain his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for two weeks.

Quinlan played in Shannon's defeat by Garryowen last Sunday week and, having proved his fitness, has been added to the squad. The Irish management were very impressed with Keane's performance at outhalf for Garryowen that day and he comes in for Deane. A vacancy has been left which will be filled by Lansdowne prop Reggie Corrigan provided he comes through the game against Cork Constitution this weekend.

St Mary's College full back Peter McKenna and Blackrock second-row Robert Casey are still injured and were not considered. Gatland confirmed that the management team had thought about promoting one or two of the Under-21 team to the A side, principally Jeremy Staunton and Gordon D'Arcy but decided to leave them in a more nurturing environment.

Ireland (squad): G Dempsey (Terenure), D Hickie (St Mary's), S Horgan (Lansdowne), B O'Driscoll (Blackrock), K Maggs (Bath), R Henderson (Wasps), M Mullins (Young Munster), D Humphreys (Dungannon), R O'Gara (Cork Constitution), P Stringer (Shannon), G Easterby (Ebbw Vale), P Clohessy (Young Munster), J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), J Hayes (Shannon), K Wood (Garryowen), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), M O'Kelly (St Mary's), M Galwey (Shannon), J Davidson (Castres), S Easterby (Llanelli), T Brennan (St Mary's), A Foley (Shannon), D O'Cuinneagain (Ballymena), K Dawson (London Irish).

Ireland A (squad): D Crotty (Garryowen), G Murphy (Leicester), T Howe (Dungannon), S Coulter (Belfast Harlequins), J Kelly (Cork Constitution), K Keane (Garryowen), E Elwood (Galwegians), E Farrell (Blackrock), T Tierney (Garryowen), D Hegarty (Terenure), M Horan (Shannon), AN Other, P Wallace (Saracens), S Byrne (Blackrock), A Clarke (Dungannon), P Johns (Dungannon), L Cullen (Blackrock), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), E Miller (Terenure), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Ward (Ballynahinch), A Quinlan (Shannon).