Rugby: Gatland postpones naming Irish XV

Ireland have been forced to postpone naming their team to face Samoa

because of mounting injury worries.

Ireland coach Warren Gatland was set to unveil his starting XV tomorrow

for Sunday’s Lansdowne Road Test. But he had to cancel today’s scheduled training session and put back the team announcement by 24 hours to Wednesday as 15 members of his 25-man squad are carrying injuries.

Of the casualty list, David Wallace (shoulder), Denis Hickie (shoulder) and Girvan Dempsey (Achilles tendon) are rated doubtful starters. But Gatland is also sweating over captain Keith Wood (thigh) and his fellow Lions tourists to Australia Brian O'Driscoll (recurrence of knee) and Malcolm O'Kelly (wrist).

Also in the Irish sick bay are Munster’s John Hayes (shoulder), Mike Mullins (ankle), Peter Clohessy (bronchitis) and Frank Sheahan (eye cut); Leinster’s Eric Miller (shoulder) and Shane Horgan (recurrence of ankle), Ulster duo David Humphreys (recurrence of ankle) and Jonathan Bell (recurrence of ankle) as well as Bath centre Kevin Maggs (shin).

The announcement of the Ireland A team to play New Zealand at Ravenhill

on Tuesday, November 13 has also been postponed to Wednesday.