Foley to lead charge against the All Blacks

ANTHONY FOLEY looks certain to lead Ireland against the All Blacks at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week. The Munster captain should take over in the absence of injured Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell.

Reggie Corrigan, the only other serious contender, has been excluded from the squad of 24, culled from an original list of 31 by coach Eddie O’Sullivan yesterday.

O’Sullivan also left Munster flanker David Wallace, Leo Cullen and promising youngster Jamie Heaslip out of the frame in the list of 13 forwards. The backs were cut from 14 to 11, with Rob Kearney, Kieran Lewis and David Quinlan all deemed surplus to requirements.

Injuries to Simon Easterby (nose) and Shane Horgan (shoulder) were behind O’Sullivan’s decision to keep the squad at 24 instead of 22. Of the uncapped players added to the squad last week, Ulster trio Rory Best, Neil Best and Andrew Trimble remain.

The starting line-up and replacements for the November 12 season opener will be confirmed next Tuesday.

O’Sullivan said: “We have two main injury concerns in Shane Horgan and Simon Easterby, so we have named 24 in the squad to allow them as much time as possible to prove their fitness before we name our team next week.

“Shane Horgan picked up a shoulder knock playing in the Heineken Cup last weekend, but we are optimistic that he will be fit.”

Lions flanker Easterby suffered a broken nose against Toulouse on October 22 and is having his fitness monitored. However, he trained on Wednesday with a cast over his nose.

O’Sullivan added: “Training has gone well over the last week, and the new faces in the squad have fitted in very well. The other players who have been released will come back into the equation for the games against Australia and Romania.”

Ulster have eight players named - Andrew Trimble, Rory Best and Neil Best, David Humphreys, Kieran Campbell, Simon Best, Matt McCullough and Tommy Bowe.

Depending on the fitness of Easterby and Horgan, Ulster could have six players involved in the match squad for November 12, the second game of an attempted All Blacks “grand slam.”

IRELAND (squad): N Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), R Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), S Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), S Byrne (Saracens), S Easterby (Llanelli), A Foley (Shannon/Munster), J Hayes (Bruff/Munster), M Horan (Shannon/Munster), M McCullough (Ballymena/Ulster), D Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), D O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), J O’Connor (Wasps), M O’Kelly (St.

Mary’s College/Leinster: T Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), K Campbell (Dungannon/Ulster), G D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), G Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster), A Horgan (Cork Constitution/Munster), S Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster), D Humphreys (Dungannon/Ulster), G Murphy (Leicester), R O’Gara (Cork Constitution), P Stringer (Shannon/Munster), A Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster).

Not considered due to injury: G Easterby (Blackrock College/Leinster), D Hickie (St Mary’s College/Leinster), E Miller (Terenure College/Leinster), P O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster), B O’Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster), A Quinlan (Shannon/Munster), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster).