New Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named his team for Sunday's Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship opener against Wales at Lansdowne Road. Paul O'Connell is the only new cap in the line-up and is one of seven Munster players in the team. He replaces Malcolm O'Kelly in the second row.
Mick Galwey will captain the side in the absence of injured skipper Keith Wood. Eric Miller is also missing from the team as he is suffering from a stomach bug. His place in the back row has been taken over by Simon Easterby. However, Peter Stringer has been declared fit to play at scrum-half.
Ireland: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Geordan Murphy, 13 Brian O Driscoll, 12 Kevin Maggs, 11 Denis Hickey, 10 David Humphreys, 9 Peter Stringer, 1 Peter Clohessy, 2 Frank Sheahan, 3, John Hayes, 4 Mick Galwey (capt), 5 Paul O Connell, 6 Simon Easterby, 7 David Wallace, 8 Anthony Foley.
Replacements: 16 Shane Byrne, 17 AN Other, 18 Gary Longwell, 19 Keith Gleeson, 20 Guy Easterby, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Rob Henderson.
The Ireland A team to play Wales A in Musgrave Park, Cork on Saturday, February 2nd at 2.30pm was also announced.
Ireland A: 15 Paddy Wallace, 14 Gordon Darcy, 13 John Kelly, 12 Mike Mullins, 11 Tyrone Howe, 10 Paul Burke, 9 Neil Doak, 1 Reggie Corrigan (Captain), 2 Paul Shields, 3 Simon Best, 4 Leo Cullen, 5 Jeremy Davidson, 6 Alan Quinlan, 7 Andy Ward, 8 Victor Costello
Replacements: 16 Gavin Hickie, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Tony McWhirter, 20 Ben Willis, 21 Jason Holland, 22 Anthony Horgan.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
