 Andrew Trimble has impressed in training this week in Dublin |
With doubts surrounding Simon Easterby and Shane Horgan, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named a squad of 24 ahead of the game against New Zealand. Easterby has had recent surgery for a broken nose while Horgan picked up a shoulder injury last weekend.
Ulster have eight players named with Andrew Trimble, Rory Best and Neil Best the uncapped players in the squad.
David Humphreys, Kieran Campbell, Simon Best, Matt McCullough and Tommy Bowe make up Ulster's representation.
Depending on the fitness of Easterby and Horgan, Ulster could have six players at least involved in the squad for 12 November at Lansdowne Road, which is the second game of the All Blacks' attempted "grand slam".
Easterby trained on Wednesday with a cast covering his damaged nose, and is rated extremely doubtful.
Big names to drop out from the original 30-man selection are Leinster's loose-head Reggie Corrigan and Munster back-row forward David Wallace.
Munster's Marcus Horan looks set to make the starting line-up in the front-row alongside Shane Byrne and John Hayes.
 |  The new faces in the squad have fitted in very well |
With Leinster's young number eight Jamie Heaslip also omitted, it is almost certain the captaincy will be passed on to the experienced Anthony Foley.
"We are allowing Simon Easterby and Shane Horgan as possible to prove their fitness before we name our team next week," said O'Sullivan.
"Shane picked up a shoulder knock playing in the Heineken Cup last weekend, but we are optimistic that he will be fit to play.
"Training has gone well over the last week, and the new faces in the squad have fitted in very well.
"The other players who have been released will come back into the equation for the games against Australia and Romania."
Forwards (13):
Neil Best (Ulster), Simon Best (Ulster), Rory Best (Ulster), Shane Byrne (Saracens), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster), John Hayes (Munster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Matt McCullough (Ulster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Johnny O'Connor (Wasps), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster).
Backs (11):
Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Kieran Campbell (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), Anthony Horgan (Munster), Shane Horgan (Leinster), David Humphreys (Ulster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster).
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 