Selectors wield predictable axe

The Irish management have predictably wielded the selectorial axe in response to last Saturday's 50-18 defeat by England in Twickenham, with Conor O'Shea, Tom Tierney and Dion O'Cuinneagain dropped from the initial 25-man squad announced yesterday for tomorrow week's visit of Scotland to Dublin.

The English-born, Welsh-based Easterbys, 28-year-old Ebbw Vale scrum-half Guy and his 25-year-old brother, the Llanelli flanker Simon, have been promoted from the A team which beat their English counterparts 31-30 last Friday night in Northampton along with the uncapped duo of Shannon tight-head John Hayes and Lansdowne centre Shane Horgan.

Also returning to the Test squad from the A ranks are winger Dennis Hickie, and number eight Eric Miller, while Ronan O'Gara, an original squad member for the Twickenham game before withdrawing with a knee problem, returns for his replacement Eric Elwood. Jeremy Davidson also returns from injury while fellow lock Bob Casey wasn't considered because of an ankle injury.

With Peter Stringer and Frank Sheahan retained in the squad, there are seven uncapped players in the 25-man panel as things stand, although the squad will be trimmed by three on Sunday evening, after the management evaluate various injuries over the weekend. It's likely that the trio to be re-routed to the A squad will come from one of the six three-quarters' named, one of the four props, and one of the five back-rowers.

The selection clearly identifies the middle five of back-row and half-back as the main area of concern arising out of the record Twickenham defeat. The Irish manager Donal Lenihan stressed that "whereas we couldn't have risked too many new faces at Twickenham, we can more easily afford to do that at Lansdowne Road."

Girvan Dempsey, as the only recognised full-back in the squad, looks certain to start in place of O'Shea, while the back-row and half-backs could well be amongst the most competitive areas in terms of selection, with Stringer not guaranteed to hold off the more experienced and bulkier Guy Easterby.

After 35 caps, O'Shea's demotion after a poor World Cup and another failure to translate impressive club form with London Irish - where he is the captain and catalyst for much of their running game - was sadly somewhat inevitable.

Likewise O'Cuinneagain, who completes a remarkable freefall from World Cup captain, although he does have the minor consolation of inclusion in the A squad, as does Tierney. Explaining O'Shea's absence from the latter squad, Lenihan agreed that he wouldn't necessarily have done the player any favours.

Concerns about Hickie's defence remain, Lenihan admitting that the St Mary's and Leinster flyer had a "mixed" game in the A match, but this is obviously superseded by the need for more pace and an attacking threat out wide.

However, Hickie was ruled out of his club's defeat to Lansdowne on Wednesday, as was Horgan, and they, along with O'Gara and Davidson, will be monitored over the weekend before the squad of 22 is announced on Sunday evening, with the team and replacements to be finalised around next Tuesday along with the A team.

Sheldon Coulter is a surprise callup to the A squad, and Paddy Johns returns there from injury, although Reggie Corrigan's inclusion could come under review after he was carried off with a knee strain in Lansdowne's win on Wednesday night.

Ireland (squad v Scotland): Backs: Girvan Dempsey (Terenure), Dennis Hickie (St Mary's), Justin Bishop (London Irish), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock), Mike Mullins (Young Munster), Shane Horgan (Lansdowne), David Humphreys (Dungannon), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Shannon), Guy Easterby (Ebbw Vale). Forwards: John Hayes (Shannon), Peter Clohessy (Young Munster), Justin Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), Paul Wallace (Saracens), Keith Wood (Garryowen), Frank Sheahan (Cork Constitution), Jeremy Davidson (Castres), Mal- colm O'Kelly (St Mary's), Mick Galwey (Shannon), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Shannon), Kieron Daw- son (London Irish), Trevor Brennan (St Mary's), Eric Miller (Terenure). NB: Robert Casey (Blackrock) was not considered because of injury.

Ireland A (squad v Scotland A): Backs: T Tierney (Garryowen), D Hegarty (Terenure), E Elwood (Galwegians), E Farrell (Blackrock), J Kelly (Cork Constitution), S Coulter (Belfast Harlequins), T Howe (Dungannon), D Crotty (Garryowen), R Henderson (Wasps). Forwards: M Horan (Shannon), R Corrigan (Lansdowne), S Byrne (Blackrock), A Clarke (Dungannon), L Cullen (Blackrock), P Johns (Dungannon), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), D O'Cuinneagain (Ballymena), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Ward (Ballynahinch).

NB: Three further players will be added to the A team squad following the selection of the Ireland senior team.