Declan Kidney's final training session ahead of his first team announcement took place in Donnybrook this afternoon, with all but two of his 34-man squad taking part. Ospreys back Tommy Bowe was afforded a rest after playing for his club against London Irish in the EDF Energy Cup yesterday, while Tomás O'Leary sat it out with a foot injury.
The Munster scrumhalf is, however, expected to be available for selection in the side that will face Canada at Thomond Park on Saturday.
A dead-cert to be named in that team is outhalf Ronan O'Gara, who will take to the field having been named the rugby writers' Player of the Year for 2008 this evening.
After a forgettable 2007 in which Ireland and O'Gara failed to shine at the World Cup, the playmaker bounced back in style this year, winning his second European Cup with Munster.
Ireland's most-capped outhalf is seventh in the all-time points list in test rugby and needs just 21 points to reach 1,000 in the European Cup.
Predictably, the Team of the Year award also went to Munster after their success, while Club of the Year and AIB League Division One champions Cork Constitution made it a clean sweep for the province
Former Ireland outhalf Mick English joined former prop Seán Lynch in the Hall of Fame, while one-time Ireland and Leinster coach Roly Meates receives the Tom Rooney Award for services to rugby.
