Despite a record home defeat, the Irish selectors are unlikely to make drastic changes from the team beaten 63-15 by New Zealand when announcing the side to play Canada on November 30th in Dublin this morning. Indeed, all the signs point to no more than a couple of alterations.

After all, the team picked to play the All Blacks by coach Brian Ashton, manager Pat Whelan and co-selector Donal Lenihan was very much a form selection. Having blooded five full new caps (brought to seven if replacements David Erskine and Kevin Maggs are included) it would be a harsh judgement indeed not to see how, say, Conor McGuinness and Malcolm O'Kelly, would fare against the Canadians.

Furthermore, the brilliant performance by the All Blacks' `Tuesday' side in overwhelming Emerging England by eight tries to one re-affirms the belief that John Hart's first-choice side will put the Irish performance in perspective by handsomely beating England as well at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Whelan conceded that the Irish team which played the All Blacks was a form selection, adding: "We picked five new caps because we believed they deserved to be picked on merit. It may have been a bit of a gamble, but a lot of it paid off while some of it didn't."

Keith Wood will again be named as hooker and captain on the proviso that his bruised ankle ligaments heal in time. "The cast is coming off tomorrow and our medical opinion says he should be fit to play. Apparently the extra day (Ireland play Canada on Sunday week) could make all the difference. Eric Miller is 100 per cent," added Whelan.

Whelan revealed that they would be limiting the team to "the guys who've attended the sessions. We're not going to pull any springers." In addition, Conor O'Shea is still ruled out through injury and the selectors are not waiting until they see either Jonathan Bell or Richard Wallace in action before finalising their selection.

In light of this, it would seem that the players most under pressure to retain their places are blind side flanker Eddie Halvey and left-winger John McWeeney, both of whom were replaced in tactical substitutions against the All Blacks. Predictably, Ireland were porous out wide, even if this wasn't entirely the fault of the wingers.

As in the All Blacks' game, David Erskine would seem the logical favourite to replace Halvey, all the more so as David Corkery wouldn't seem to have done enough since returning from injury and the selectors may not be keen to rush Trevor Brennan in just yet.

Similarly, McWeeney's replacement during the All Blacks' game, Kevin Maggs, could be chosen on the left-wing, although his contributions at Irish squad sessions have been confined to centre, where he plays for Bristol.

Of those who partook in the sessions, Jan Cunningham and, at a push, John Lacey could come into the equation, although the selectors might be reluctant to blood further new caps. James Topping, fit again after injury, was picked five times last season and though none coincided with a win his relative experience may earn him the nod.

Curiously, as with the London Irish pair of Justin Bishop and Niall Woods, Darragh O'Mahony - who did well in his two appearances in the 1995 World Cup, was an original selection for Leinster this season before his dual contractual problems surfaced, and is scoring regularly for Moseley - is not in the reckoning.

"O'Mahony hasn't been at the sessions and you must remember he is playing in the second division in England," retorted Whelan.

Perhaps one or two of these wingers will be given an opportunity in the A team to play the Canadians at Ravenhill next Wednesday.

Whelan confirmed that this will very much be Ireland's "second best team" so is unlikely to bear any correlation to the Development XV which played the Exiles in last week's undistinguished trial match.

The A side will also be announced this morning.