Simon Easterby

Age: 25.

Birthplace: Harrogate, England.

Height: 6 ft 3 ins.

Weight: 15 st 10 lbs.

Honours: Yorkshire Schools, Ireland Under-21, Ireland A (2 caps).

Clubs: Harrogate, Sydney University, Leeds, Llanelli.

Background: Son of former Ireland hockey international Catherine Easterby (nee Doyle) whose brother Guy is the replacement scrumhalf on Saturday. Played at number eight for Ireland Under-21 under Eddie O'Sullivan. Was chased by several English clubs - and Leinster - before joining Llanelli during the summer. Great athlete, tough, rugged and a good ball-handler. Can play anywhere in the backrow.

Quotes: "I owe a great deal to Llanelli and we have gone well in the European Cup so far. I think that had a huge influence on my selection for the A team and now this selection. The Ulster games were good games and I did fine in those. So it's all gone well so far. I was pleased with certain aspects of my performance against England in the A match. It was good to beat them. There were certain aspects with which I wasn't happy. We had a win which is the main thing. I'd play anywhere that I'm selected. I have played blindside and openside for Llanelli this season. I am absolutely delighted to get this opportunity and Guy is very happy for me."

Warren Gatland on Easterby: "I haven't seen a lot of him but have seen tapes of some of his games. He was in the initial squad which trained for two days and I was very impressed with what he brought, his rawness, his ball skills, his ruggedness. I was very impressed with his display in the A match and I am looking forward to his performance on Saturday.

John Hayes

Age: 26.

Birthplace: Limerick. Height: 6 ft 4 ins.

Weight: 20 st.

Honours: Munster, Ireland A (3 caps).

Clubs: Bruff, Shannon, Marist (New Zealand), Shannon.

Background: Only took up rugby when he was 18, playing for junior club Bruff. Joined Shannon, winning an AIL medal with them in '95. Spent a couple of seasons with the Marist club in New Zealand before returning to Shannon. Has two brothers, Tom (19, backrow) and Mike (21, prop) with him at Shannon. Was on the Ireland tour to South Africa in 1997 and has already won 24 caps for Munster. Is still perfecting his scrummaging technique but a huge presence around the pitch and as a lifter in the lineout.

Quotes: "I knew the time that I made the 25-man squad for the England match that I must be close even though Shane (Horgan) and I were the unlucky ones to be dropped when the squad was pared down to 22. There is a massive jump between Munster and Ireland A and there will be another one on Saturday. I hope I will make it. Tom Smith made a name for himself on the Lions tour when he did very well against much bigger fellas. He has been ever present for Scotland since. He's technically very good and represents a very tough challenge."

Donal Lenihan on Hayes: "He's a player in which we have invested a lot of time. He's made huge progress. He's very young in terms of the prop position but deserves his chance. He's a fantastic lineout lifter and has a good understanding with Mick Galwey. We decided to select the Munster unit and hopefully things will go well."

Peter Stringer

Age: 22.

Birthplace: Cork.

Height: 5 ft 7 ins.

Weight: 11 st.

Honours: Munster, Ireland Under-21, Ireland Schools.

Clubs: UCC, Shannon.

Background: Joined Cork Constitution at the age of six and has been involved in rugby right the way through, playing with Presentation Brothers College, Cork and also touring Australia with the Ireland Schools. Made his debut for Munster in last season's interpros and also played in the European Cup of last year. Scrumhalf to the Ireland under-21s which won four of five matches. Last season he edged out Tom Tierney and Brian O'Meara to become Munster's first-choice scrumhalf this season. Won the European Students' Cup with UCC last season before joining Shannon in the summer. Good passer, good cover tackler and a fine reader of the game.

Quotes: "I was thinking about the selection all Monday night. It's a dream come true and I am now just looking forward to the weekend. With Ronan (O'Gara), Mikey (Mullins) and Anthony (Foley) it helps you settle into the side. Everyone has made us feel very welcome. I played against the Scots at under-21 level last season and know what to expect. They are a great rucking side. I relish the challenge and look forward to it. I've played at Lansdowne Road twice but only at club level so I can't wait to play before a packed house."

Eddie O'Sullivan on Stringer: "He's an excellent distributor and offers a threat around the sides. His covering and tackling is good. The fact that he's played in a unit of eight, nine, and 10 with Foley and O'Gara should stand to him on Saturday."

Shane Horgan

Age: 21.

Birthplace: Drogheda.

Height: 6 ft 4 ins.

Weight: 15 st 10 lbs.

Honours: Leinster Youths, Ireland Youths, Leinster, Ireland Under-21, Ireland A (5 caps).

Clubs: Boyne, Lansdowne.

Background: Played Gaelic football and rugby as a youngster before joining Boyne. Made the Leinster Youths and then played five time for the Ireland Youths team in 1996. Played underage for Leinster and then at under-21 level for Ireland in the centre. Graduated to the Leinster senior team and played for the Combined Universities against South Africa in 1998. Big, strong centre with good balance and an ability to break tackles. Has only played on the wing at underage level on what would constitute a semi-regular basis.

Quotes: "I have played on the wing here and there for Leinster at a couple of levels and also a little bit in the club. It's okay playing for Leinster and Ireland A but it is a massive step to go and play senior rugby at international level. I'm just happy I have got the chance. No, it doesn't bother me playing on the wing. You're playing for your country, if they had stuck me in the (second) row I would have been as happy. The upturn in Leinster's fortunes helped. I think team spirit improved as the results got better. The arrival of Matt Williams made a great difference, obviously him being a specialist backs' coach. He helped to bring us all on. I just can't wait for Saturday."

Donal Lenihan on Horgan: "He has played some rugby for Leinster on the wing. He's a good enough footballer to adapt and do a job in that position. As a footballer he's a very exciting player and deserves his opportunity."

Ronan O'Gara

Age: 22.

Birthplace: USA.

Height: 5 ft 10 ins.

Weight: 13 st.

Honours: Munster, Ireland Under-21, Ireland A (1 cap).

Clubs: UCC, Cork Constitution.

Background: Captained Pres Cork to a Munster Schools' Senior Cup success in 1995. A member of the Ireland Schools' squad, he never made the team but went on to win a Triple Crown at under-21 level in 1998. Won one A cap when coming on as a replacement against Italy last season before helping Cork Constitution to the AIB League Division One title last year. Has won 20 Munster caps since making his debut against Connacht in 1997. Great all-round skills, equally at home in kicking or moving the ball. Good place-kicker.

Quotes: "I had a bad game last Saturday but that's in the past. I suppose it's just as well I had the off day last Saturday rather than this one. There's no bother with my leg so there'll be no excuses. I've got to thank my Con team-mates first and foremost, it's been a great 15 months, winning the AIL and then being in the Munster team, things have really taken off. The one good thing about last Saturday is that expectation levels are where they should be. The touch of reality was lost up to then. It was a kind of scenario of `Jim'll fix it' about me. Now I'm just a normal Joe Soap and happy to be there. I just go out to play a game and look forward to it just like I do every Saturday."

Eddie O'Sullivan on O'Gara: "He's a pretty complete footballer. He can play both types of game and is not afraid to run. He can move the ball and also keep a team going forward through his kicking: he can defend. I think he's ready."