Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has announced his 22-man squad for the Thomond Park international friendly with Romania on Saturday week.
Several players, as expected, return to the squad for the World Cup qualifier warm-up after missing the summer tour to New Zealand through injury.
While the restoration of Denis Hickie, Kevin Maggs and Rob Henderson is most welcome, it provides O’Sullivan and manager Brian O’Brien with an intriguing selection headache at centre ahead of the World Cup qualifier with Russia in Siberia on September 21st.
Maggs, in particular, has made speedy progress following a badly broken arm sustained at the end of last season. He came through last week’s training camp with flying colours and subsequently made an impressive comeback for Bath at the weekend in their defeat to Cardiff. Both he and Henderson will scrap it out for the inside centre spot alongside Brian O’Driscoll.
Justin Bishop is unlucky to be squeezed out while Munster’s versatile winger John Kelly, scorer of two tries on his debut against Italy in last season’s Six Nations, should build on an impressive start to his international career.
Up front, Eric Miller will be looking to secure his place in the back-row after injury forced him out of both All Black tests. The Terenure and Leinster flanker traveled but missed out after sustaining a bruised bicep and a damaged nerve against a New Zealand Divisional XV.
Miller’s task, however, will be made that bit more difficult with the inevitable selection of workhorse Keith Gleeson alongside Simon Easterby and Anthony Foley.
Munster second-row Paul O’Connell is recovering from a back operation so Leo Cullen, who earned his first international cap during the summer test in Auckland, retains his place.
Anthony Horgan, Geordan Murphy and Shane Horgan were others unavailable through injury.
O’Sullivan will name his starting team next Tuesday.
Terrace tickets, priced €18, are on public sale but stand tickets are sold out.
Ireland squad to play Romania on Saturday, September 7th at Thomond Park:
Backs:Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College), John Kelly (Munster – Cork Constitution), Denis Hickie (Leinster – St. Mary's College), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Rob Henderson (Munster – Young Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College), David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon), Ronan O'Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon), Guy Easterby (Llanelli).
Forwards:Reggie Corrigan (Leinster - Greystones), John Hayes (Munster - Shannon), Paul Wallace (Leinster – Blackrock College), Keith Wood (Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College), Gary Longwell (Ulster – Ballymena), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary's College), Leo Cullen (Leinster – Blackrock College), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster – Shannon), Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College), Keith Gleeson (Leinster – St. Mary's College).