Humphreys to lead Ireland as Kelly starts

SIX NATIONS: In the wake of the Twickenham hammering the Irish management elected to retain faith in the starting team save for one enforced change for the ensuing game against Scotland, yet in the light of that handsome victory have opted to make four changes, only one of which was caused by injury, for Saturday's game against Italy.

In most cases they have been and remain tight calls, influenced by circumstances and the nature of the opposition. Whereas the management went against most forecasts after the English game - say, in retaining Eric Miller and Frankie Sheahan - this time they have opted for Simon Easterby and Shane Byrne; the 30-year-old hooker finally making a most deserved and long-awaited first championship start.

A little surprisingly they've also picked Gary Longwell ahead of Paul O'Connell in place of the dropped Mick Galwey as well as debutant John Kelly ahead of Tyrone Howe on the wing following Shane Horgan's reversal to inside centre for the injured Kevin Maggs.

Contrary to the official vibes emanating from the camp it transpired that while Keith Wood's calf was fine after his comeback game last Saturday for Harlequins, he had lately been troubled by a touch of sciatica which ultimately has forced him out of this game. Wood sees a specialist on Wednesday.

With Galwey already out, the captaincy goes to David Humphreys for the first time at Test level. "Yeah there was a bit of debate," admitted Eddie O'Sullivan in choosing Humphreys ahead of Anthony Foley to lead the side, without really elaborating on the exact reasons for their choice beyond saying Foley would lead the pack. It's still a surprise to this observer that Foley - who seemed like the heir apparent when made captain against Samoa - hasn't been given the job.

Given a choice between Byrne and Sheahan, predictably O'Sullivan and his staff opted for the former given the psychological buffeting Sheahan's line-out throws has taken in recent times and which culminated in his first-half replacement by Byrne against Scotland.

Although O'Connell was prefered to Longwell in the Six Nations opener against Wales as the middle of the line jumper in the absence of Malcolm O'Kelly, this time Longwell has been prefered as the front of the line option in tandem with O'Kelly.

Aside from Longwell's greater experience as a number two jumper, O'Connell has only had a couple of AIL outings since his try-scoring debut against Wales in the intervening seven weeks due to concussion and then a dental operation.

Even so, that would hardly diminish O'Connell's level of fitness or performance, and it had seemed likelier that he would be groomed immediately with the French game in mind.

Mindful that the Italians have tended to attack close in, the unfussy Easterby shores up the fringe defence as well as anybody.

Howe is more of a specialist left wing than Kelly but O'Sullivan said that this decision was partly influenced by a desire not to further upset the balance of the back three by moving Denis Hickie from left to right, even though he has played there a number of times for Leinster and Ireland, and seems to switch better than any other Irish winger.

Assistant coach Declan Kidney, who knows Kelly's game better than most, commented: "I know how hard he's worked to get there. He more than carries his weight and he's a very good team player. His honesty in the way he goes about his job, aside from his skills and fitness, that's what he'd be recognised for."

O'Sullivan is clearly concerned about the expectations for a handsome Irish win against opponents who are viewed a little dismissively as the championship whipping boys.

"The only people taking this game for granted seem to be the people on the other side of this table. To be honest I've never taken them for granted," he said, pointing to their competitiveness until a couple of unlucky turning points against France and Scotland, and the return to arms of key players such as Diego Dominguez since their defeat to Wales.

TEAM: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), John Kelly (Munster), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Shane Horgan (Leinster), Denis Hickie (Leinster), David Humphreys capt (Ulster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Peter Clohessy (Munster), Shane Byrne (Leinster), John Hayes (Munster), Gary Longwell (Ulster), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), David Wallace (Munster), Anthony Foley (Munster).

Replacements: Frank Sheahan (Munster), Paul Wallace (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Eric Miller (Leinster), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Tyrone Howe (Ulster).

IRELAND A (v Italy A, Donnybrook, Friday, 6.0): P Wallace (Ballymena and Ulster); G D'Arcy (Lansdowne and Leinster), M Mullins (Young Munster and Munster), J Holland (Midleton and Munster), A Horgan (Cork Constitution and Munster); P Burke (Harlequins), N Doak (Ballymena and Ulster); R Corrigan (Lansdowne and Leinster, capt), G Hickie (St Mary's and Leinster), S Best (Belfast Harlequins and Ulster), L Cullen (Blackrock and Leinster), B Casey (Blackrock and Leinster), A Quinlan (Shannon and Munster), V Costello (St May's and Leinster), K Gleeson (St Mary's and Leinster).

Replacements: J Blaney (Shannon and Munster), M Horan (Shannon and Young Munster), D O'Callaghan (Cork Con and Munster), A Ward (Ballynahinch and Ulster), B O'Meara (Cork Constitution and Leinster), J Staunton (Garryowen and Munster), J Bishop (London Irish).