Full Back: Kevin Nowlan
Age: 26. Caps: 0. Tries: 0.
Meteoric understates his rise. Long, rangy stride belies excellent pace. Timing is good coming into the line. Doesn't shirk defensive duties, but could be more assured, starting today.
Right-Wing: Denis Hickie
Age: 21. Caps: 3. Tries: 2.
Wonderful talent who burst on the scene last season. Potent finisher who uses both blistering speed and good footwork. Concentration lapses foster defensive mistakes at times.
Centre: Rob Henderson
Age: 25. Caps: 1. Tries: 0.
Powerful centre whose ability to break tackles makes him a central attacking gambit. Hands have improved as has awareness, but needs to play at inside rather than outside centre.
Centre: Mark McCall
Age: 29. Caps: 6. Tries: 0.
Small in stature but big in heart. Trademark sidestep that can take him through gaps. Must improve defensively from nightmare against Italy. Faces difficult game, if he plays outside centre.
Left-Wing: John McWeeney
Age: 21. Caps: 0. Tries: 0.
Owes his place to a series of outstanding games in the European Cup. Very quick and uses his strong physique to good effect. Needs to be more aware defensively but a great prospect.
Out-Half: Eric Elwood
Age: 28. Caps: 19. Points: 167 (45 pens, 13 cons, 2 drop goals).
Performs the basics excellently, restarts, kick-offs, place-kicking etc. Great defender. Can be a little hesitant in possession which has wrongly seen him labelled as a poor distributor.
Scrum-Half: Conor McGuinness
Age: 22. Caps: 0. Tries: 0.
A very fine schools player, lost his way a bit at under-21s, losing out to Brian O'Meara. Solid pass, good punter and gutsy tackler and exceptional at breaking once a gap is spotted.
Loose-Head: Nick Popplewell
Age: 32. Caps: 44. Tries: 3.
Has now recovered from the hamstring injuries that have undermined him over past two seasons when he performed below par. At his best as good as anyone in that position in world rugby. Big influence.
Hooker: Keith Wood
Age: 25. Caps: 9. Tries: 0.
Inspirational cult figure whose dashing style has endeared him to everyone. Great ball player, blessed with power and pace. Line-out throwing is the only thing that keeps him a mere mortal. Leads by example.
Tight-Head: Paul Wallace
Age: 26. Caps: 12. Tries: 2.
Made his mark in world rugby with a mighty performance for Lions in summer where he coped with the enormous Os du Randt. Good scrummager, capable with ball in hand, covers ground and makes tackles.
Second Row: Paddy Johns
Age: 29. Caps: 34. Tries: 2.
Gentleman. Under-rated, hard working second row, who supports intelligently and makes plenty of tackles. A no-nonsense approach on the pitch. Reasonable line-out jumper, honest player.
Second Row: Malcolm O'Kelly
Age: 23. Caps: 0. Tries: 0.
Prodigiously talented player with the ability to be one of the giants of world rugby. Tackles relentlessly, supports well, huge appetite for work. Only problem is an occasional tendency to be muscled out of touch.
flanker: Eddie Halvey
Age: 27. Caps: 6. Tries 2.
Another exceptional athlete who has previously lacked the discipline to ensure a glittering international career. Vision, flair, pace are all at his disposal. Deadly when so inclined. Improved attitude recently.
Number Eight: Eric Miller
Age: 22. Caps: 4. Tries: 1.
The supreme athlete in the team. Excellent hands, good head, great awareness of those around him. Peerless going forward. Today, though, will be about his ability to cope with a physically strong opposing back row.
Flanker: Kieron Dawson
Age: 22. Caps: 0. Tries: 0.
Brilliant underage player in the Fergus Slattery/Nigel Carr mould. Superb speed and angles of running. Tendency to put body on line in defence and attack. Could be a huge success on the day.
