Front four return for Wales encounter

FOUR of Ireland’s front-line players - Keith Wood, Brian O’Driscoll, Anthony Foley and Shane Horgan - are to make a return to the international arena against Wales on Saturday next at Lansdowne Road.

All four were ruled out of Ireland's summer tour to Australia, Tonga and Samoa but seem certain to be included in Eddie O'Sullivan's starting line-up against the Welsh after being included in a 22 man squad yesterday.

The team and replacements will be announced on Tuesday after a training session in Kildare but it is clear that coach O'Sullivan is hell bent on re-introducing these four stars at the earliest opportunity in advance of the World Cup in October.