O’Sullivan puts faith in Bowe and O’Driscoll

STARTING places for Tommy Bowe on the right wing and Mick O’Driscoll in the second row, and a spot on the bench for Paul O’Connell, were the main talking points from the Irish selection to face Scotland in Saturday’s RBS Six Nations game at Croke Park.

Skipper Brian O’Driscoll, whose calf muscle tightened in training yesterday, is a doubt but coach Eddie O’Sullivan expressed confidence the centre will play. The Scottish match represents Mick O’Driscoll’s third start in this, his 14th appearance for Ireland, and follows outstanding performances for Munster and in Ireland’s impressive second half display against France in Paris. Bowe’s inclusion is ironic as he is rewarded for a number of fine games for Ulster, the team he leaves at the end of the season to join Ospreys. A superb try in the Ireland A game against England Saxons also helped his cause. Bowe, who wins his 11th cap Saturday, is believed to be the second Monaghan man to represent Ireland.

“Tommy got his break two years ago, and like many young fellas who gain recognition early and have a barnstorming kind of start, things fell away for him,” reasoned O’Sullivan. “The second season is often hard for a young fella because you’ve had a good start and everybody is talking about you. I think Tommy slipped a little bit. Things didn’t go for him, but he has bounced back from that.