Eddie O'Sullivan's preparations ahead of his Six Nations debut against Wales at Lansdowne Road on Sunday are threatening to be undermined by a lengthy injury list. Eric Miller is the latest player to cause the Irish manager concern after falling victim to a stomach bug, and Leinster's uncapped flanker Keith Gleeson has been promoted from the A squad as cover. 21-year-old Gleeson is just the latest player on standby following injuries to captain Keith Wood, Malcolm O'Kelly and Shane Horgan.
Munster hooker Frankie Sheahan will replace Wood, who was officially ruled out yesterday after failing to overcome a calf injury he sustained back in December. O'Kelly also pulled out with a fractured cheekbone and his Leinster colleague Horgan has failed to overcome a rib injury sustained in his side's 29-18 Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat at Leicester on Sunday.
Lock Paul O'Connell, man of the match in Munster's 16-14 Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Stade Francais on Saturday, is in line for his first cap in place of O'Kelly. Horgan's replacement is Lions centre Rob Henderson, who originally had to be content with a place in the Ireland A team after missing most of the season with a knee injury.
Henderson will be vying with Kevin Maggs for a place alongside Brian O'Driscoll when the selectors name the starting line-up tomorrow. Leinster hooker Shane Byrne has been promoted to the bench and Mick O'Driscoll and Mike Mullins join the A squad for the game against Wales in Cork on Saturday.
Filed by Shane Murray
