FOLLOWING the record defeat by France in Paris last Saturday, the Ireland selectors were in an uncompromising mood when they chose the side to meet, Wales at Lansdowne Road tomorrow week.

Six changes in personnel, two positional alterations and a new captain, scrum half Niall Hogan, are the consequences of the Paris debacle and the team includes one new cap, 22 year old Orrell full back Simon Mason. And there are distinguished casualties as some of the oldguard make way for the younger element.

Although Hogan had been informed late on Wednesday night by manager Pat Whelan of his selection and nomination as captain, Mason was unaware that he had been picked until after the team was announced.

No one was more surprised at his selection than the player himself. When I contacted him - at his Leeds base yesterday morning just after the team was announced, his initial reaction was: "Are you trying to wind me up? I just cannot believe it. I know there was some talk that I might have a chance, with Jim Staples ruled out, but talk is one thing and reality another. Are you sure you are not winding me up?

Assured that he was in the team, he said: "It is incredible, I am absolutely overwhelmed. I have fulfilled the ambition I have held since I first declared for Ireland as an under 21 player, but I did not think the cap would come this season.

Mason comes in for Staples, who was concussed against France and the other alterations in the back line are the return of Simon Geoghegan on the right wing and Maurice Field in the centre. Richard Wallace and Kurt McQuilkin are the players omitted.

There is some consolation for the Wallace family as Richard's younger brother Paul is named at tight head prop in place of Peter Clohessy, who is suspended. Paul has been capped three times, against Japan in the World Cup, against Fiji and the United States, but lost out to Clohessy for the championship matches against Scotland and France. Allan Clarke is named at hooker for former team captain Terry Kingston.

Another of the most experienced players to lose out is Paddy Johns, who won his 28th cap in Paris. His Dungannon clubmate Jeremy Davidson is moved from the blind side flank to the second row. David Corkery goes from open to blind side flanker and Denis McBride comes in on the open side and wins his 23rd cap.

The return of Geoghegan was not, of course, an issue. He had to withdraw from the team that met France because of a damaged hamstring and Richard Wallace was brought into the side in his absence.

Field, who came on as replacement for Staples in Paris with Jonathan Bell moving to full back, wins his 11th cap. Five of those caps have been as a replacement. But Field has played well for Ireland and for Ulster and his selection in place of McQuilkin is justified. Bell holds on but he badly needs a good match. David Humphreys keeps his place at out half.

Mason has had a rapid rise to the top honour. A building surveying student in Leeds Metropolitan College, he is a former pupil of St Anselem's Christian Brothers College in Birkenhead. He played for the North of England schools and North of England under 21 team.

He played for Liverpool St Helen's after leaving school and after being approached by Exiles representative Jim Harty about his Irish qualifications, he was brought into the Exiles under 21 team. He was capped at under 21 level for Ireland against England and Scotland last season but omitted for the Triple Crown match against Wales.

His Irish qualifications come from his two paternal grandparents. "They come from the Navan Road," he said. "While one of my grandparents on my mother's side is also Irish."

He played for Newcastle Gosforth last season while studying in the Newcastle area, but this season moved to Orrell. He is the second highest points scorer behind England international Jonathan Callard in the top division of the English League.

His form for Orrell was closely monitored by the Irish selectors and it earned him selection on the wing in the Ireland A side that beat Scotland in Donnybrook last month. He also played for the Irish Students against the French Students last week. He has never played at Lansdowne Road, now his initial experience comes in the Ireland jersey.

Hogan's elevation to the captaincy is a wise choice. He did not play well in Paris, but that performance in no way represented the depth of his talent. Not alone is he the first player from Terenure College to lead his country, his selection as captain gives him a unique place in Ireland's rugby history. He becomes the first player to captain Ireland at schools, colleges, students, under 21, A and now senior levels.

He has captained his school Terenure, the Leinster schools, the Leinster under 19, under 20 and senior sides and led Terenure to victory in the Leinster Senior Cup two years ago.

The A side to meet Wales in Donnybrook this day week includes full caps in Conor O'Shea, Richard Wallace, Sean McCahill, Eric Elwood, Alain Rolland, who leads the side, Neil Francis, and Anthony Foley. There is no place for John Gallagher, who played against Scotland. "He has played very little rugby since that match and, in fairness to him, he needs to play matches," said Whelan.

"We had to select two teams but it took us three to four hours to select the senior side," said Whelan, who admitted they had some very difficult decisions to make. "We were tempted to change the entire front row, but we decided we need Nick Popplewell's stability and experience, even though he has not played well and he was under pressure.

There will be three training sessions at the weekend, two tomorrow and one on Sunday morning. "The players chosen on the senior side will not be released to play for their clubs in the English competitions on Saturday but those on the A side will be released," said Whelan.