Selectors turn to mix of Likely Lads and Nowhere Men

Kevin Nowlan Born: June 26th 1971, Dublin. Representative honours: Leinster. Perhaps the unlikeliest elevation of all time. Nowlan self-deprecatingly recalls an undistinguished career in every back position bar scrum-half at St Mary's, during which he never made the JCT or SCT. "I was never good enough."

For five years he played what he calls "Sunday rugby" at the University of Ulster. "I used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day and drink a few pints. I only really started to take it seriously the summer before last when I returned to Dublin and rejoined St Mary's."

"I gave up the fags, gave it my best shot and got fit. Then I got my break when Garry Halpin moved to Amsterdam." After a promising Leinster Championship campaign, Nowlan burst onto the AIL scene. His natural pace and intrusions into the line were frequently used under Ciaran Fitzgerald's coaching; Nowlan scoring ten tries in 12 games.

Currently on a training weekend in Galway with St Mary's, Nowlan heard of his selection after Conor O'Shea's withdrawal from Dennis Hickie, who had been rung at the team hotel by his father. "I thought Dennis was having me on. I didn't believe him. It is unbelievable; it still hasn't sunk in."

He happily describes the prospect of playing against Christian Cullen and co as "terrifying - it scares the hell out of me."

John McWeeney Born: May 25th, 1976, Dublin Representative: LeinsterAnother startingly quick rise to the top after less than a year in senior rugby, including just six games for St Mary's and eight for Leinster. His chance in part is due to to the injuries to others, but McWeeney has had a progressively strong campaign with Leinster. He's quick, agressive, and physically strong, as befits a former lock.

Like Nowlan, McWeeney heard through St Mary's grapevine on their training weekend in Galway. "From what the media had been saying I guess it was sort of expected but I wasn't letting myself think about it too much.

Like Nowlan, he readily ascribes his progress to the style of play instigated by Ciaran Fitzgerald. "He encouraged me last year and the whole gameplan was to bring Kevin and the wingers into play, which made it easier for us as well. I scored six tries in six games and Kevin provided the final pass for four of them."

Even so, he didn't expect his inclusion in the Leinster squad this season and ensuing £7,500 part-time contract. "It's amazing how quickly it happens. I can't believe how fast things are happening. There's no chance to draw breath and try to set new goals. Every time something else comes along. It hasn't sunk in yet but I'm not going to psyche myself up too much. I think I'll try and have the same mentality I've had for each of Leinster's games.

Conor McGuinness Born: March 29th, 1975, Dublin Representative: Irish Schools, Leinster

Another of the Nowhere Men a yeart ago, McGuinness spent much of last season in the St Mary's seconds before breaking into the side along with John McWeeney for the league run-in. Undoubtedly, it was the decision to declare for Connacht which proved the turning point in his career, as he came under tutelage of Warren gatland.

A good tackler and kicker, McGuinness' game has evolved under Gatland. "He brought new aspects to my game such as my lines of running and, from an attacking point of view, the way in which we use the forwards. Before, I just used to give hospital passes."

A string of good performances for Connacht, especially in the wins over Northampton, made him favourite for thenumber nine shirt. He was listening out for the news on Radio One at 10 a.m. yesterday when his borther's fiancee, who had been listening to 2FM, phoned to convey the good news.

"I deliberately hadn't thoiught about it because I don't like to think about these things but I'm absolutely delighted. Chuffed." Thereafter his phone was "like a switchboard."

Of playing the all blacks McGuinness says: "I must admit it is a big one, but you might as well start with the big ones. It's a huge challenge. To play one of the lesser international teams wouldn't be such a big deal.

Malcolm Kelly Born: July 19th, 1974 in Essex, England Representative: Leinster, Ireland under-21s, Ireland `A'With the seriously talented O'Kelly, it was always a case of when rather than if. "I know people said my time would come but now that it's happened I am really thrilled. This is something I wanted this season and I intend giving it my best shot."

Indeed, talent such as his comes along very rarely. And it would be fair to say that not even the youthful Neil fancis or Jeremy Davidson had as much natural athleticism and ball-playing ability as the willowly O'Kelly.

Educated at Templeogue College, O'Kelly was a regular on reasonably competitive junior and senior schools side without gaining any recognition beyond that. But after a year on the St Mary's under-19 team Ciaran Fitzgerald had little compunction about throwing him in at the deep end, and the self-confident O'Kelly had little compunction about taking up the offer.

Willing to tackle until he drops, O'Kelly has beefed up this year after his progress was interrupted by an unfortunately timed broken ankle this time last year. Riddled by self-doubts at the start of the Development tour, he came good by the end of it and showed Brian Ashton why he had been raved about this side of the Irish sea.

His reputation was already high with London Irish and Leinster a year ago, and there's no telling how high his stock can rise.

Kieron dawson Born: January 25th, 1975, Bangor representative: Irish schools, Ulster Irish under-21s, Students and A.

the quickest flanker at Ashton's disposal and therefore the tearaway most suited to the runniing style of game. Dawson played himself strongly into contention with four good performances in the last month for London Irish.

A phone call from the man in the Belfast telegraph yesterday morning confirmed the news of his predicted first cap, though in typical Dawson fashion the Ulster smoothie took it in his stride. "I knew I had a chance and I was hoping I'd get picked but I didn't want to think about it too much to be honest."

Educated at Bangor grammar School, Dawson's talents as a ball player were manifest in his selection as an out-half for much of his final year at the school, at the end of which he also won Irish schools caps as a flanker.

Dawson was one of several London Irish players to finish last season in a rich vein of form, though he claims a persistent shoulder injury left his less than 100 per cent fit. "By the time I went to New Zealand on the development tour I was tired after a long, hard season."

The tour began badly for him he knuckled down and made sizeable contributions to the improved end-of-tour performances against the Maoris and Western Samoa.

Ironically, he attributes his elevation in part to the ill wind of a broken thumb. "That gave me a chance to rest for two months and get the energy level back."