Experience returns to bolster youth

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named four uncapped players in the preliminary squad for the 2006 Six Nations, which opens with the visit of Italy on February 4th.

As expected O'Sullivan has opted again to include the Leinster duo of Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip, who were selected for the Autumn internationals but did not make an appearance. Leicester backrow Shane Jennings and Wasps scrumhalf Eoin Reddan are also included.

Commenting on the new additions O’Sullivan said: "Both Eoin (Reddan) and Shane (Jennings) have been in good form for their clubs, so it will be good to see how they go with the squad next week."

Captain Brian O'Driscoll is welcomed back into the set-up having emerged unscathed from his return to action with Leinster last month. His deputy Paul O'Connell and Leinster team-mate Denis Hickie also return to the 35-man squad having missed the Autumn internationals

O'Sullivan said both O'Connell and O'Driscoll have been showing good form despite a bad run of luck, which of course began for the latter when he suffered a dislocated shoulder after a 'spear tackle' by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu one minute into his Test debut as Lions captain.

"Paul (O'Connell) and Brian (O'Driscoll) have had tough seasons so far in terms of injuries, but their form has been excellent since they returned to playing in December.," said O'Sullivan.

"Along with the return of Denis Hickie, it gives the squad a little bit more experience then we had in November. Keeping in mind that we have the final round of the Heineken Cup this weekend, hopefully the squad will be fit and well and on the field next Monday morning".

"As well as the return of the more senior players, we still have a good blend of youth with Andrew Trimble, Rory Best, Neil Best and Jerry Flannery all coming into the Six Nations with a little bit more experience," said O’Sullivan.

"Jeremy Staunton and John Kelly have also been playing well and deserve their call up," he added.

The full squad is as follows:

Forwards (19):

Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Shane Byrne (Saracens)
Reggie Corrigan (Greystones/Leinster)
Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
Anthony Foley (Shannon/Munster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Shane Jennings (Leicester)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Johnny O'Connor (Wasps)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

Backs (16):

Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
Guy Easterby (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Denis Hickie (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
David Humphreys (Dungannon/Ulster)
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
John Kelly Cork (Constitution/Munster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Jeremy Staunton (Wasps)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Not considered though injury:
Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)
Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)