O'Sullivan announces 22 for Italy game

Ireland Coach Eddie O’Sullivan has today named a 22-man squad for the opening game of the 2008 RBS 6 Nations against Italy and the Ireland A team for the game against the England Saxons in Welford Road on February 1.

There are several new faces named for the first time in an RBS Six Nations match squad. In the forwards, Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman and No 8 Jamie Heaslip are named in the 22 as well as Munster prop Tony Buckley.

Leinster back Robert Kearney is the other newcomer to the squad having won his only cap to date during the summer tour to Argentina.

The A team named for the game against England Saxons is a mixture of youth and experience and is being used on several levels including providing match time for some internationals, but also giving experience to some younger players.

Commenting on the overall selections, Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan said: “The match 22 selection for the Italy game was made on the basis of form and while the response of all of the squad over the last week has been excellent, there were some tight calls to be made. This will be even harder to do next week when we decide the final selection for the game.”

“The A team game gave us the opportunity to give experience to some players at this level and also in particular positions, such as Luke Fitzgerald in the centre as well as Cian Healy and Ryan Caldwell. The game also allowed us to give other more experienced players who may not have been starting for the provinces or who were returning from injury , such as Shane Horgan, Trevor Hogan and Alan Quinlan, some valuable game time.”

“There were a number of senior players not considered in the A team as we felt that it would be of less benefit to them as they either had enough experience or already had enough games under their belts.”

The Ireland squad to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Croke Park on Saturday, 2nd February at 13:30 is as follows:

Forwards (12):

Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)

Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)

Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)

Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)

Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)

Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Malcolm O’Kelly (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)

David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

Backs (10):

Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)

Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)

Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Eoin Reddan (Wasps)

Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Not Considered:

Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) - Suspension

Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) - Injury

Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster) - A Team

Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) - A Team

The Ireland A team to play England Saxons in Welford Road, Leicester on Friday, 1st February at 19:45 is as follows:

15. Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)

14. John Murphy (Leicester)

13. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

12. Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)

11. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

10. Andrew Dunne (Old Belvedere/Connacht)

9. Isaac Boss (Ballymena /Ulster)

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

2. Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

3. Bryan Young ( Ballymena/Ulster)

4. Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Leinster)

5. Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)

6. Stephen Keogh (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

7. Shane Jennings (St. Mary’s College /Leinster)

8. Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements:

16. Adrian Flavin (Buccaneers/Connacht)

17. Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

18. Donncha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

19. David Pollock (Queens University/Ulster)

20. Chris Keane (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

21. Niall O’Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

22. Daniel O’Riordan (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Not Considered:

Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Keith Gleeson (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) - Injury

Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Johnny O’Connor (Corinthians/Connacht)

Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster) - Injury