RUGBY:Tuesday's announcement of the starting XV to play Italy in next Saturday's opening RBS Six Nations match at Croke Park will tell us more. In trimming his squad from 33 to 22 yesterday, Eddie O'Sullivan caused few surprises and the indications are that come kick-off the team itself will largely be along familiar lines.

Of the five players who missed the cut for the World Cup to be included in the 22, the most eye-catching inclusion is Rob Kearney.

With Shane Horgan, sidelined since December 15th and rerouted to the A side to play the England Saxons in Welford Road next Friday, the in-form Tommy Bowe is the unluckiest omission.

It has been Kearney's misfortune that his few errors this season have been so costly, but in fact he has been playing well, showing up more physically and effectively in defence. It could be O'Sullivan preferred the player more suited to the left wing.

With Jerry Flannery suspended, the hookers were always going to be Rory Best and the promoted Bernard Jackman, while Mick O'Driscoll's return ahead of Leo Cullen is not surprising given Donncha O'Callaghan's return to form in the nick of time.

Similarly, Tony Buckley was always likely to make the cut ahead of Cian Healy.

Ultimately therefore, all but five of the 22 were at the World Cup and four of that quintet can be partially attributed to the retirement of Denis Hickie and the unavailability of Flannery, Simon Best and Paul O'Connell.

The one who has forced his way in entirely on form is Jamie Heaslip - Neil Best missing out.

The absence of wholesale change is no surprise, given the pressure on the coach, his innate conservatism and the chance he will feel this Six Nations presents to prove the only problem in France was a lack of matches.

O'Sullivan's extraordinary assertion this week - "I believe I got selection right during the World Cup" - will have astonished many, and betrayed either a stubborn streak or a closed mind.

All the evidence suggested a lack of balance in the back row and O'Sullivan's failure to make more use of his 30-man squad.

Nevertheless, the return to provincial duty has clearly galvanised many players, notably the Munster contingent of Marcus Horan, John Hayes, O'Callaghan, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara as well as others under-used at the World Cup, Malcolm O'Kelly and Alan Quinlan.

Heaslip, Kearney, Jackman and Mick O'Driscoll are among others who have overcome their exclusion impressively.

The others to miss out from the original 33 are Luke Fitzgerald, Gavin Duffy, Quinlan - who find compensation in selection for the A side - and Johnny O'Connor, as well as the injured Johnny Sexton.

Keith Gleeson, Neil Best, Leo Cullen and O'Connor were "not considered" for the A game, as "they either had enough experience or already had enough games under their belts", said O'Sullivan.

Johne Murphy deserves his first call-up to the As after some big performances with Leicester.

While Italy often hit the opening weekend enthusiastically, having them first up at home is not the worst of starts, their coach Nick Mallett struggling for halfbacks and missing the brilliant Marco Bortolami.

Maintaining his 22 was a form selection, O'Sullivan admitted: "There were some tight calls to be made. This will be even harder to do next week when we decide the final selection for the game."

Bearing in mind how Ireland have been overly dependent on their midfield, there is also plenty of scope for making them a more dynamic all-round unit, especially up front. Were O'Sullivan to accommodate Heaslip, with Leamy reverting to the supporting, blindside role that has helped him rediscover his form at Munster, the back row would appear to have more potency.

Likewise if Jackman started at hooker, though it would be no surprise if O'Sullivan retained faith in Best amid doubts about Jackman's throwing.

O'Sullivan could look to regenerate his midfield by accommodating Andrew Trimble, exposed by faults in the defensive system when given the ill-fitting left-wing role in France. Kearney's selection may hint at his inclusion there, along with a more flexible, strike-running role for Geordan Murphy, be it from full-back or a nominal number 14.

Tuesday will indeed reveal all.

Bowe on thee move

The Ulster winger Tommy Bowe yesterday ended speculation about his future by signing terms with the Neath-Swansea Ospreys.

The Welsh franchise matched an offer made by Ulster but Bowe's decision may have been influenced by his exclusion from Eddie O'Sullivan's Six Nations squad.

The form Irish winger this season, he also received offers from the Leicester Tigers, Northampton and Saracens.