David Wallace is not in the Ireland squad for the World Cup

Lions flanker David Wallace has been left out of Eddie O'Sullivan's 30-man squad for the rugby World Cup in Australia.

Despite a successful, try-scoring return to the side which beat Scotland ahead of the tournament, Wallace was omitted with Alan Quinlan and Eric Miller getting the vote to complete a six-strong back-row selection.

Simon Easterby has forced his way into the squad on the basis of impressive form in training and in pre-tournament warm-up games, while Anthony Foley, Keith Gleeson and Victor Costello are all also included.

Geordan Murphy's broken leg suffered against the Scots meant an 11th-hour reassessment of coach O'Sullivan's three-quarter options.

Anthony Horgan and Shane Horgan are both named as wingers, along with John Kelly and record try-scorer Denis Hickie, with Girvan Dempsey the only specialist full-back listed in the squad.

Ulster centre Jonny Bell is rewarded for his recovery from two years of persistent injury with a place in a midfield trio completed by the tried and tested pairing of Brian O'Driscoll and Kevin Maggs.

David Humphreys and Ronan O'Gara will continue their battle for the fly-half berth in Australia.

Peter Stringer is joined in the contest at scrum-half by Guy Easterby and Neil Doak, the Ulster pivot and only uncapped player in the squad.

Longwell's relief

Ulster prop Simon Best did enough in the last month to persuade the management that he deserved a front row chance.

Reggie Corrigan, John Hayes and Marcus Horan are included, with Emmett Byrne possibly unfortunate not to have proved his fitness in time.

Justin Fitzpatrick of Castres is another regular member of the Irish training panel not to have made the cut.

Skipper Keith Wood will have Shane Byrne and Frankie Sheahan contending for the hooker's position.

In the second row Malcolm O'Kelly and regular partner Gary Longwell are named along with the two young Munster talents, Paul O'Connell and Donnacha O'Callaghan in a total of 17 forwards.

The Irish squad travel to Bilbao on Tuesday for a week-long training camp. Missing will be injured trio John Hayes, John Kelly and Shane Horgan who will receive medical treatment in Dublin.

Backs: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), Anthony Horgan (Munster) Shane Horgan (Leinster), John Kelly (Munster), Denis Hickie, Brian O'Driscoll (both Leinster), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Jonathan Bell, David Humphreys (both Ulster), Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer (both Munster), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Neil Doak (Ulster). Forwards: Reggie Corrigan (Leinster), Marcus Horan, John Hayes (both Munster), Simon Best (Ulster), Keith Wood (Munster, captain), Shane Byrne (Leinster), Frankie Sheahan (Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster), Gary Longwell (Ulster), Paul O'Connell, Donnacha O'Callaghan (both Munster), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Victor Costello, Eric Miller, Keith Gleeson (all Leinster), Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley (both Munster).