Payne relief as O’Sullivan names 6 Nations squad

Barry Coughlan

“I’m very pleased,” Payne admitted yesterday.

“I’m comfortable being in the squad and I’m comfortable about playing on the wing, outside centre particularly or at full-back.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and the experience of training with a very high quality squad,” said the Munster player.

Though born and raised in Capetown, Payne holds an Irish passport (his grandmother was from Sligo) and has experience of the international side, having replaced Gordon D’Arcy in last summer’s tour to South Africa.

“I was involved in some sessions before the squad departed and everyone on the stand-by list was told to head back to their various centres to continue training. I asked to be allowed home to meet up with my family and I suppose I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

Leinster centre D’Arcy is named in the squad after overcoming an injury nightmare.

The 25-year-old, who emerged as one of the players of last year’s tournament after initially being seen as a reserve, missed all three of Ireland’s November internationals with a groin injury sustained on European Cup duty.

But he returned to the Leinster ranks last month and is in line to renew his vaunted midfield partnership with Brian O’Driscoll.

Ireland’s riches in the back-row have been acknowledged by O’Sullivan, who has named seven players for the three positions, as he prepares for what could be the Triple Crown holders’ best opportunity of taking the RBS 6 Nations title for many years.

Alan Quinlan is back in the frame after impressing for Munster this season and he is joined by highly-rated Ulster number eight Roger Wilson who will be chasing his first cap.

Wasps flanker Johnny O’Connor is the man in possession of the number seven jersey but, with Denis Leamy and Eric Miller also featuring, he faces some stiff competition.

Ulster newcomers Kieran Campbell and Ronan McCormack are included in a squad skippered by O’Driscoll, who will be anxious to give further indication of his leadership qualities with the Lions captaincy up for grabs this summer.

Keith Gleeson, Tyrone Howe, John Kelly and Neil McMillan were not considered for selection because of injury.