Horgan returns for Georgia clash

Shane Horgan returns to the Ireland starting XV having fully recovered from a knee ligament strain which occurred while warming up for the pre Rugby World Cup game against Scotland in August.

Horgan suffered a knee ligament strain while warming up before last month’s clash with Scotland and has spent the last four weeks on the sidelines.

The gifted Leinster back returns to the right wing with Ulster’s Andrew Trimble dropping out of the squad altogether in the only change to the 22 selected against Namibia.

Eddie O’Sullivan stated yesterday he would not wield the axe in response to the dire 32-17 victory over the Africans and the Ireland coach has remained true to his word.

Lions centre Brian O’Driscoll was last night passed fit to lead the side after recovering from the hyper-extended elbow sustained against Namibia and continues at outside centre.

Fly-half Ronan O’Gara and prop Marcus Horan are also included in after making swift recoveries from their respective foot and rib injuries.

15 – Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)

14 – Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)

13 – Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) captain

12 – Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

11 – Denis Hickie (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

10 – Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

9 – Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

1 – Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)

2 – Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

3 – John Hayes (Shannon/Munster)

4 – Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

5 – Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

6 – Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

7 – David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

8 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Replacements:

16 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)

17 – Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

18 – Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

19 – Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

20 – Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)

21 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

22 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester)