First cap for O'Grady in changed Irish side

The Ireland management team have made six alterations to the side which beat Canada last month for Saturday week's international against Italy in Bologna. Sale flanker Dylan O'Grady is the only new cap.

Accusations of blood lust among the selectors must be tempered by the knowledge that three changes were enforced through either injury or non-availability, precluding the presence of Conor McGuinness, Nick Popplewell and Ross Nesdale on the Italian expedition.

St Mary's College scrum-half McGuinness is out until after Christmas following scan results which showed a stress fracture to his right leg, sustained in an AIB Division One match against Terenure College last Saturday.

The main beneficiary, somewhat surprisingly, is former Irish captain Niall Hogan. Cork Constitution's Brian O'Meara was touted as the likely deputy primarily because he was an original choice for the bench against New Zealand and Canada.

Unfortunately for O'Meara, a neck injury prevented him from taking his place among the replacements against Canada, providing Hogan with an unexpected recall to the national squad. Irish team manager Pat Whelan explained that it was Hogan's club connection that cemented his return to the national team.

He ventured that because there was little to choose between the two scrum-halves, they had decided to pursue the `London Irish factor': Mark McCall, David Humphreys and Kieron Dawson are all team-mates of Hogan's at Sunbury. The assumption is that familiarity fosters greater understanding in defensive duties.

While this may be a reasonable premise at face value, it hardly sends the correct message to O'Meara, who has bided his time patiently only to be hit with a blast from the past - Hogan's last cap was against England in the Five Nations championship, a match in which he was substituted, ironically, by O'Meara after 66 minutes.

One suspects that Hogan's greater defensive grit against what will be a physically-abrasive Italian team earned him the recall and a 13th cap on Saturday week. He will partner Humphreys, who receives another opportunity to deliver on his undoubted, but often well-camouflaged, talent.

Galwegians out-half Eric Elwood has been chastised for the pedestrian ramblings of the Irish midfield against the Canadians, the perennial fall guy once more steps into the revolving door. Fortunately for Mark McCall and Rob Henderson, Ireland lack genuine alternatives in the centre, or they too might have had to employ a watching brief.

There is a certain contradiction in employing the more dexterous Humphreys at out-half, only to retain a one-dimensional midfield pairing and a centre, Kevin Maggs, playing on the wing. Moseley left wing Darragh O'Mahony must wait for future A games.

Popplewell and Nesdale have been released to participate in Newcastle's European Conference semi-final in Agen. Greystones loosehead Reggie Corrigan wins a second cap, while Harlequins and Lions hooker Keith Wood returns to captain the team after missing the game against Canada.

An ankle injury forced Wood's premature departure against the All Blacks, but not before the Lion managed a brace of tries. His return, medical opinion suggests he will be fit, will be a huge fillip for the side.

The 26-year-old O'Grady replaces Sale clubmate David Erskine at blindside flanker, the latter unfortunate to lose out. O'Grady, who plays at openside for his club, has only just returned from a knee injury, but Whelan confirmed that the Irish team management were keen to establish his credentials in the international arena.

"We watched Dylan play last season and were impressed. Unfortunately he was not able to make the Development tour during the summer because of injury. He got injured again at the start of the season, but has since played four matches for Sale.

"We watched him play last Friday night and it was obvious that he is back to full fitness. David Erskine did exceptionally well in many respects, but we had a problem with fringe defence. Dylan brings a greater defensive aggression. We would be kicking ourselves if we did not have a look at him prior to the Scottish match."

Erskine's demotion may be deemed unfortunate, Victor Costello's even more so. Aside from scoring a try, he produced a hard-grafting display in both attack and defence, but loses out to Eric Miller - a player Whelan aptly describes as "world class".

"We decided that Eric's best position was number eight. We did consider employing him elsewhere, but not for very long. We felt he will be best used as a number eight," Whelan said. The Irish party convenes next Monday and will train in London before embarking on the Italian adventure. The international kicks off at 1.30 p.m.