O’Sullivan stands by selections

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan has defended his decision to exclude Leinster flankers Keith Gleeson and Shane Jennings from his Six Nations squad.

O’Sullivan’s decision to promote Connacht’s Johnny O’Connor to join David Wallace as one of two specialist number sevens in the 33-man squad raised eyebrows earlier this week, not least in Dublin 4.

But yesterday he batted the criticism away and stood firmly behind the decision, saying: “We picked seven back row forwards, three sixes, two eights and two sevens. The reason Johnny O’Connor comes in as a seven ahead of Keith Gleeson is because I believe his form is better.