O'Driscoll ruled out of Italian encounter

Brian O'Driscoll is out of the Ireland squad for the opening Six Nations match against Italy in Rome on Saturday week. The Blackrock College centre was omitted from the Ireland 22-man squad announced yesterday after consultation with a specialist, who reviewed the scans taken in the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin earlier this week.

It was felt that his shoulder problem, initially sustained while playing for Leinster against Edinburgh Reivers and exacerbated against Biarritz in France at the weekend, constituted too great a risk of further damage were he to play. Instead he will undergo intensive physiotherapy and the prognosis is that he will be available for Ireland's second match against France at Lansdowne Road on February 17th.

Ireland's assistant coach Eddie O'Sullivan pointed out: "He (O'Driscoll) should be fit for the France game. Better that he miss one game rather than two or three. We weren't sure what the scan would reveal. It's disappointing but the prognosis is good for the rest of the Six Nations." Better news for the Ireland team management was the suggestion that St Mary's College wing Denis Hickie's broken hand, which was originally expected to keep him sidelined for six weeks, is mending more quickly than anticipated. He, too, could return to the back line in time for the French match.

Coach Warren Gatland will make at least five changes from the team that started against South Africa in November. Hickie, O'Driscoll, Eric Miller (broken thumb) and Dawson (neck operation) are all out injured while Gary Longwell drops down to the A squad.

In fairness to the Ballymena man who acquitted himself well in the autumn internationals, Mick Galwey (knee) and Jeremy Davidson (thumb) were originally selected but forced to withdraw through injury. Both have been reinstated to the senior squad. St Mary's College prop Emmet Byrne makes his debut in the senior squad, a recognition of his excellent form and ability to play on both sides of the front row with equal facility.

Dungannon's Justin Fitzpatrick is the player to lose out, dropping to the A squad. The Irish management see Peter Clohessy as a loosehead prop and with Byrne on the bench he would not have to switch sides in the scrum, as would be the case with Fitzpatrick.

David Wallace and Alan Quinlan have been rewarded for their performances for Munster this season. Girvan Dempsey will play at full back on Saturday week with Tyrone Howe on the left wing. Kevin Maggs, Rob Henderson, Mike Mullins and Shane Horgan will dispute the remaining three places in the three-quarter line.

Kieron Campbell of London Irish graduates to the A squad from last year's under-21s while Paul Burke has recovered from a broken arm. The Harlequins outhalf played half a game for his club last weekend and is expected to start in the 'Quin's European Shield quarter-final against Brive this weekend. The principal issue in the three-quarter line appears to be whether Geordan Murphy or Dominic Crotty will start at full back.

Justin Bishop and Anthony Horgan are favourites for the wing positions with John Kelly and Jonathan Bell in the centre. Jeremy Staunton, originally scheduled to head for Argentina and the World Cup Sevens, has been promoted to the A team. Trevor Brennan's form in the Biarritz game is rewarded but Blackrock College captain and second row Leo Cullen must be considered unfortunate to miss out.

Outstanding 20-year-old Connacht flanker Johnny O'Connor makes the A grade rather than playing for the under-21s and seems certain to start. The reverse is the case for Gordon D'Arcy, who is chosen in his preferred position of full back on the underage team, having played largely on Leinster's left wing this season. The under-21 team is captained by Shannon centre Mossie Lawlor and includes former Ireland schools captain Gavin Duffy at outhalf.

Matt Mostyn and James Topping were not considered for the A team because they are on duty with the Ireland Sevens team in Argentina. The Ireland senior and Ireland A teams will be announced next Monday.