Rugby/Six Nations Championship: Consistent to some, conservative to others. After just one defeat, it would have been untypically knee-jerk of Eddie O'Sullivan to have abandoned the selection policy which had been seen as a strength through six successive wins.

So despite some evidence in the defeat to France that the team might have benefited from a little freshening up, the Irish coach has announced an unchanged side for the RBS Six Nations finale in Cardiff on Saturday.

There might have been an argument for sacrificing the greater experience and defensive dependability of Girvan Dempsey for, say, the less proven but potentially more potent running game of Tommy Bowe; or, given the strength in depth of the backrow, infusing the forward play with more ball-carrying oomph by starting Eric Miller and having Alan Quinlan on the bench.

However, this was always unlikely, and O'Sullivan reacted indignantly to the very notion that this was a vote of confidence in the starting XV and replacements.

"I find that a strange question about confidence. We've just won three of our last four matches, so it's kind of a funny way to come at it, to be honest with you.

"I can't think of any reason for dropping anyone off the team at this juncture. I don't think anyone deserves to be dropped. I think fellas have played pretty well throughout, and with Gordon (D'Arcy) and Shane (Horgan) and Denis Leamy still injured, there really wasn't any areas for consideration. It wasn't a hard selection meeting, to be honest with you."

There might yet be an enforced change, as Peter Stringer sustained one of those back spasms which trouble him yesterday morning, and had to miss training.

"I'd be hopeful," said O'Sullivan, which to seasoned observers can be interpreted as less than optimistic, and he added: "We've kept Kieran Campbell in as cover just in case because it is nasty enough and you can never tell with back spasms."

Reggie Corrigan also sat out training "with a knee injury, the usual war wound. It's stiff and sore, so there was no point in battering him today when we need him on Saturday."

O'Sullivan also anticipates what has become part of the new sporting lexicon, "bouncebackability".

"In fairness to the lads, they've bounced back already. They trained really well today. They were pretty hurt and sore on Monday morning, but there was certainly a pep in their step today and a bite in training, which is good to see at this stage of the week. When you lose a match you're hoping to win, you can go one of two ways: you can either let it get you down or you can learn and get better. And that's the only choice you have, you either go backwards or forwards, you don't stand still."

While O'Sullivan has staunchly defended the level of Ireland's overall performances thus far, he conceded that Mike Ruddock's team have probably played the rugby of the championship so far. "They've been outstanding in attack particularly, they've just torn teams to shreds and they've done it at home and away from home. They're really on a roll at the moment.

"It's a hell of an ask to go to Cardiff in front of a pretty partisan Welsh crowd and win, but that's the job we've in hand and the job we believe we can do. This Welsh team are going to take a bit of beating, but by golly we're going to go there and give it one hell of a rattle."

There was also an interesting insight into O'Sullivan's attitude towards impact replacements in light of his springing Eric Miller and Marcus Horan off the bench only with 10 minutes left. He maintained it was "a misguided notion that you have to bring people off the bench", and that "fresh legs syndrome was sort of a magic wand you have in your back pocket if the game is going against you".

O'Sullivan explained he is reluctant to make replacements in the backs, save for injuries, "because you have one cover in the backs and two specialists, and more often than not you make a replacement in the frontrow because it's the area of highest attrition. But in the back five you need to be sure that you're not messing with the dynamics of your backrow or your lineout.

"It's easy to sit back in the stand and say 'we need fresh legs'," said O'Sullivan, adding. "I think people don't quite understand the whole dynamics and mechanics of making tactical substitutions other than a player is injured or a player is underperforming. You might disagree with me, but they're the principles I base them on."

Asked specifically about David Humphreys, O'Sullivan said: "If I put off Ronan O'Gara and put on David Humphreys, Humphs would have been cold and might have missed that drop goal against Argentina. If Rog went down the field and hit a drop goal on Saturday, you wouldn't be asking me that question."

Ireland v Wales, Saturday, Cardiff 3.30

15 Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

14 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster)

13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt)

12 Kevin Maggs (Ulster)

11 Denis Hickie (Leinster)

10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster)

9 Peter Stringer (Munster)

1 Reggie Corrigan (Leinster)

2 Shane Byrne (Leinster)

3 John Hayes (Munster)

4 Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster)

5 Paul O'Connell (Munster)

6 Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

7 Johnny O'Connor (Wasps)

8 Anthony Foley (Munster)

Replacements: 16 Frank Sheahan (Munster), 17 Marcus Horan (Munster), 18 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), 19 Eric Miller (Leinster), 20 Guy Easterby (Leinster), 21 David Humphreys (Ulster), 22 Gavin Duffy (Harlequins).