Ireland name squad of 31 for Italy game

The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS Six Nations championship at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week, will be chosen from the squad of 31 players, which took part in a mini training camp in Dublin over the last few days.

The Irish management have made a pragmatic decision not to cut the squad to 22 this week before a number of players, who may be in contention for a place, play games over the weekend.

The main source of concern surrounds three players and it has been decided prudent to see how they react physically to competitive matches before putting their names in the pool of players available for selection.

Marcus Horan, who has been suffering with a back injury for some weeks, will line out for Munster against Gwent Dragons, while full back and winger Geordan Murphy, who has recovered from a broken leg he sustained playing against Scotland last season, is scheduled to take part in a match for Leicester against Northampton.

Munster second row, Donncha O'Callaghan, who started in his first Irish match with provincial colleague, Paul O'Connell, against Wales but hobbled off injured with damage to a medial knee ligament, is not included in the Munster side to travel to Wales. This may make his availability doubtful for the Italian match.

The Irish team and replacements to play Italy will be announced at Citywest Hotel, on Tuesday next, following training at Naas rugby club.

Leinster, who play Connacht in the Sportsgrounds tomorrow afternoon, welcome back international number eight Victor Costello to the starting line-up.

In the anticipated move by Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan to give the non-playing Irish squad members pitch time with their club and province sides, Costello slots in beside Niall Ronan and captain Des Dillon, who moves to the blindside.

Aidan Kearney comes in for the injured Ciarán Potts in the second row while Brian O'Riordan slots in at scrumhalf for Brian O'Meara on rotation. More interestingly Felipe Contepomi moves back to outhalf with Matt Leek on the bench while Gary Brown comes into the side at outside centre.

Meanwhile Rob Appleyard, the Cardiff back row, who received a red card when he punched Leinster's Aidan McCullen last Friday night at Donnybrook, was given a 21-day suspension yesterday.

Meanwhile, former Leinster coach Mike Ruddock is relishing the prospect of coaching Wales after being named as Steve Hansen's successor yesterday.

The 44-year-old Gwent Dragons coach was the surprise choice of the Welsh Rugby Union to take over the national side when New Zealander Hansen steps down at the end of the Six Nations Championship.

Leicester prop Julian White and Sale Sharks hooker Andy Titterrell have been called up for England squad training at Pennyhill Park next week, and their presence should put pressure on Clive Woodward's first-choice front row.

IRELAND SQUAD - Forwards: S Best (Ulster), S Byrne (Leinster), R Corrigan (Leinster), V Costello (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli), A Foley (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), Marcus Horan (Munster), B Jackman (Connacht), G Longwell (Ulster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), F Sheahan (Munster), D Wallace (Garryowen). Backs: G D'Arcy (Leinster), N Doak (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster), G Easterby (Rotherham), S Horgan (Leinster), T Howe (Ulster), D Humphreys (Ulster), J Kelly (Munster), K Maggs (Bath), G Murphy (Leicester), B O'Driscoll (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), Peter Stringer (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), Darren Yapp (Connacht).

LEINSTER (v Connacht) J Norton; J McWeeney, G Brown, C Warner, B Burke; F Contepomi, B O'Riordan; J Lyne, D Blaney, S Brophy, A Keraney, B Gissing, D Dillon, N Ronan, V Costello. Replacements: J Moran, B Blaney, J Heaslip, S Crawford, B O'Meara, M Leek, J Downey.