DECLAN FITZPATRICK, MIKE Sherry and Simon Zebo will be in with a shout of winning their first international caps this summer.
Declan Kidney named the trio in his squad to tour New Zealand this summer in a set of matches that will surely require all hands to the pump.
Brian O’Driscoll will lead the side as captain after missing out on the disappointing Six Nations campaign.
After an impressive season Ulster are contributing six players including Darren Cave, who will hope to make hay and add to his two caps as cover for O’Driscoll in the absence of Eoin O’Malley.
Kidney has left four spots open for ‘AN Other’ to fill positions at prop, second row, back row and scrum half in what will be a 33-man squad. Kidney will wait for news on the fitness of Chris Henry, Paul O’Connell, Tom Court and Isaac Boss.
Ireland squad: (Forwards) Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Stephen Ferris, Declan Fitzpatrick*, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, Donncha O’Callaghan, Peter O’Mahony, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Mike Sherry*, Dan Tuohy.(Backs) Darren Cave, Gordon D’Arcy, Keith Earls, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Brian O’Driscoll (Capt), Ronan O’Gara, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo*.
*denoted uncapped player
Same ole same ole. Yet again kidney has wasted another opportunity to freshen up the squad. Think it’s time for new ideas!
First ever all-Irish, Ulster v Leinster Heineken cup final and 2 of the 3 new caps are from Munster. Says it all really.
Who’s the other hooker you’d have instead of Mike Sherry so?
I’d have Dave Kearney or Gilroy ahead of Zebo.
Didn’t answer the qustion…..and why is D’Arcy still there,people are calling for ROGs head yet we have a player well past his prime at 12
Declan, you are a completel jokeshop. Please give it up.
how does he square his stated obective to ‘win the series’ with this selection? o’callaghan? cant even start consistently for munster
you have to feel sorry for some of the players . they surely cant be happy with this selection. only one outcome here: humiliation. pointless exercise
dave kearney?
Opportunity lost Again.Is O’Gara going to hang around forever.McCaw and co will brush him aside.
Deccie just about rescued his career by picking Ross but he has finished his career by going with O’Gara for this tour.