Brian O'Driscoll's knee injury is not as serious as first feared

Brian O'Driscoll has retained the Ireland captaincy for next month's internationals against Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

There had been suggestions that new Ireland coach Declan Kidney might opt for Paul O'Connell as skipper.

O'Driscoll heads a 41-man panel which has been selected for the autumn Tests.

The squad is along expected lines with Ulster players Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace, Rory Best, Ryan Caldwell, Tom Court and Stephen Ferris all included.

The only changes from the training squad announced in late July see Ulster players Bryan Young and Isaac Boss dropping out alongside the currently banned Neil Best and injured Leo Cullen while Munster's Barry Murphy is drafted in.

Gordon D'Arcy is also unavailable because of complications following arm surgery last spring.

D'Arcy requires further surgery on the injury after the first operation and subsequent bone graft failed to rectify the problem.

Skipper O'Driscoll is expected to be available for the games despite sustaining a knee injury in Saturday's Heineken Cup win over Wasps.

The November games assume additional importance this year Ireland coach Declan Kidney

A scan on Monday revealed that he had a twisted knee rather than any major damage and he is expected to be available for the internationals.

Canada are first up for Ireland at Thomond Park on 8 November and it's possible that O'Driscoll and a number of other regulars may be rested for that game.

The Irish then face New Zealand at Croke Park on 15 November before taking on Australia seven days later at the Dublin venue.

Kidney said that he was delighted that the 85-times capped O'Driscoll had "agreed to captain the squad".

"I have also opted to name a bigger squad that originally anticipated so that we can continue to familiarise a largely new-look backroom staff with a wider group of players," added Kidney.

"Our games assume additional importance this year considering their significance as regards our seeding position going into the World Cup 2011 draw being made in December."

Kidney's extended squad includes veteran lock Malcolm O'Kelly but there is no place for Johnny O'Connor despite the Connacht flanker's recent good form.

Ireland squad

Backs: T Bowe (Ospreys), I Dowling (Munster), G Dempsey (Leinster), G Duffy (Connacht), K Earls (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), R Kearney (Leinster), G Murphy (Leicester), B Murphy (Munster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), R O'Gara (Munster), T O'Leary (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps), J Sexton (Leinster), P Stringer (Munster), A Trimble (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster)

Forwards: R Best (Ulster), T Buckley (Munster), R Caldwell (Ulster), B Casey (London Irish), T Court (Ulster), S Ferris (Ulster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), C Healy (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster), M Horan (Munster), B Jackman (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), A Quinlan (Munster), M Ross (Harlequins), D Ryan (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), R Wilson (Northampton).

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