O'Sullivan demands competition for places

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan is demanding competition for places in every position of his side as he begins the countdown to next year’s World Cup in Australia.

O’Sullivan named his first team of the season today for this Saturday’s friendly international against Romania at Thomond Park, Limerick.

He immediately had two big calls to make in midfield and at outside half.

Bath’s Kevin Maggs earned a recall at centre to partner the mercurial Brian O’Driscoll after a summer nursing a broken arm, getting the nod ahead of another returnee in Rob Henderson.

While at fly half, Munster’s Lions tourist Ronan O’Gara was selected ahead of Ulster counterpart David Humphreys for the green number 10 shirt.

It is a situation that O’Sullivan relishes.

“It’s fortunate for us that these are difficult calls to make,” said O’Sullivan.

“Having seen them play at the weekend, both 10s are pretty much on top of their games again.

“Ronan was in possession in New Zealand and he’s held on again but it’s great for us that there is such competition.

“It’s also great to have our two front line number 12s back in the fold again.

“We toured New Zealand without them and they bring a dimension to our game that’s important for us. To have the two of them back in full training is great.”

O’Sullivan wants to expand that luxury to the rest of team.

“I would want to have a nip and tuck battles in every position,” he said.

“I think that’s a very good situation to be in. They’re all professional athletes now and they understand the mechanics of how this works and they thrive on the competition.

“So the more of these nip and tuck battles we can build up ahead of the World Cup in as many positions as possible is good for everybody.

“I think you need competition in the squad and the players react to that and want that.

“It’s a balance between a settled team and one that’s hungry as well.

“Certainly, having competition keeps the hunger but the reality of professional rugby means that over a 14 game schedule this season you’re going to have guys getting hurt.

“So the guys coming in are going to get their chance as well. It’s a healthy situation to have genuine competition right through the season.”

IRELAND: G Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure), J Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), B O’Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College), K Maggs (Bath), D Hickie (Leinster/St Mary’s College), R O’Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), P Stringer (Munster/Shannon), R Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones), K Wood (Harlequins, capt), J Hayes (Munster/Shannon), G Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), M O’Kelly (Leinster/St Mary’s College), S Easterby (Llanelli), K Gleeson (Leinster/St Mary’s College), A Foley (Munster/Shannon).

Replacements: S Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), P Wallace (Leinster/Blackrock College), L Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), G Easterby (Llanelli), D Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon), R Henderson (Munster/Young Munster).