 Darren Cave has been in fine form for Ulster this season |
Uncapped Ulster centre Darren Cave has been included in Ireland's 39-man squad for the RBS Six Nations Championship. Cave earns his call-up after producing impressive recent form for Ulster but his team-mate Ian Humphreys has to be content with a place in the A panel. Jonathan Sexton holds off Humphreys for the second fly-half berth in the squad behind Ronan O'Gara. Gordon D'Arcy returns after injury to a squad that contains all 34 players named for the autumn Tests in November.  | 606: DEBATE |
The additions to that panel are Cave, London Irish lock Bob Casey, Ulster prop Tom Court, Harlequins prop Michael Ross and Munster flanker Donnacha Ryan, who won his first cap after earning a late call-up for the game against Argentina. Casey, Court and Ross make a return to the Irish squad after being named in an extended panel for the game against the Barbarians in May. D'Arcy broke his arm against Italy in the opening match of last year's championship and only returned to provincial duty for Leinster last month. The 28-year-old centre will be competing with Luke Fitzgerald for the chance to partner Brian O'Driscoll in midfield. Humphreys and his Ulster team-mate Isaac Boss are included in the nine-man A panel which will be supplemented by players from the senior squad for the game against England Saxons on 6 February. Ireland's Six Nations opener against France takes place the following day at Croke Park. The Irish squad includes seven uncapped players - Cave, Court, Sexton, Ross, Cian Healy, Ian Dowling and Ryan Caldwell. Leo Cullen, Tony Buckley, Neil Best and Roger Wilson were not considered for selection because of injury or suspension although Northampton forward Best is named in the A panel, which also includes Exeter's John Andress. Ireland coach Declan Kidney said that naming a 39-man squad would help him "to develop a panel". "As well as bringing the players through the systems of the team, it allows for the usual knocks the players might pick up," said Kidney. "The core group of players who were part of the November squad have maintained their form. "But it's also pleasing to be able to bring in players who are really developing this season like Darren Cave and Tom Court. "The more established players have also performed well over the last number of weeks."
Ireland squad: Backs: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Ian Dowling (Munster), Shane Horgan (Leinster), Robert Kearney (Leinster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Peter Stringer (Munster). Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Munster), Bernard Jackman (Leinster), Tom Court (Ulster), John Hayes (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Mike Ross (Harlequins), Ryan Caldwell (Ulster), Bob Casey (London Irish), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Alan Quinlan (Munster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), David Wallace (Munster). A panel: Isaac Boss (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Connacht), Gavin Duffy (Connacht), Ian Humphreys (Ulster), Keith Matthews (Connacht), John Muldoon (Connacht), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Neil Best (Northampton), John Andress (Exeter)
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The core group of players who were part of the November squad have maintained their form 
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