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| | Tuesday, 5 November, 2002, 11:55 GMT O'Driscoll to lead Ireland  Brian O'Driscoll is now flying high as Irish skipper Ireland v Australia | Lansdowne Road | Saturday, 9 November | 1430 GMT | Live on BBC2 and Radio Ulster Brian O'Driscoll will lead his country for the first time when Ireland face world champions Australia at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. He takes over from the injured Keith Wood, getting the job ahead of Munster's Anthony Foley. Both Foley and Ulster's David Humphreys have skippered Ireland in Wood's absence over the past couple of seasons. But coach Eddie O'Sullivan is happy to hand over the reins to the 23-year-old.
''I had no problems giving Brian the captaincy - it's time to move on,'' he told BBC Sport Online. ''He was made one of the vice-captains last week, and I feel now is the right time to give him the lead role. ''Brian has been around for a while now, and has the experience. Players also look up to him.'' "I have every confidence that he will do a great job." As expected, Shane Byrne takes over as hooker from Wood, while Shane Horgan is back after injury in place of John Kelly. However, O'Sullivan has left a vacancy on the left wing in the hope that Denis Hickie's wrist injury recovers in time. He is due to have a small cast removed from his injured wrist on Wednesday. If he is not passed fit, Kelly and Leinster's Geordan Murphy will step in. The return of Leinster number 8 Victor Costello will raise a few eyebrows.
With Simon Easterby missing through injury it was expected that Munster's Alan Quinlan would wear the number six jersey. But O'Sullivan has gone for the in-form Costello who only came back into international reckoning as a late replacement against Romania in September. Before that, Costello, who will win his 24th cap, had not featured since the 1999 tour to Australia. ''I don't think it is a gamble at all,'' O'Sullivan added. ''Back-row players are now very flexible and can play in any position in the back three.'' Ireland: G Dempsey; S Horgan; B O'Driscoll, capt, K Maggs, AN Other, R O'Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes, G Longwell, M O'Kelly, V Costello, A Foley, K Gleeson. | |
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