Jeremy Staunton was yesterday named as one of three full backs in the Irish squad along with Terenure's Girvan Dempsey and Leicester's Geordan Murphy but is not in the Munster starting line-up to face Neath in tomorrow's Celtic League fixture in Wales.
The Garryowen utility player, who scored 30 points in Munster's win over Connacht on Tuesday night, is one of nine changes that coach Declan Kidney has instigated following the Thomond Park victory. Enthusiastically embracing the concept of squad rugby, Kidney is planning Munster's tough fortnight. They face a further three games in eight days following this week's activity.
Ronan O'Gara, making his first start of the season for the province, having come on to pivotally change the match against Connacht, makes up an out-half threesome in Warren Gatland's squad alongside Ulster's David Humphreys and Harlequins' Paul Burke.
Because of injury, Paul Wallace, Rob Henderson and Bob Casey don't figure in the opening session, which takes place in the University of Limerick on September 3rd-4th. Ireland's immediate priority is the three matches remaining from last year's Six Nations Championship, the first against Scotland at Murrayfield on September 22nd.
Young Munster prop Peter Clohessy is the first name on Gatland's list and also captains Kidney's Munster side.Here , there is an entirely new front five, with Clohessy and Martin Cahill propping Frank Sheahan, joining a second row of Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell. A change in the backs sees Jason Holland move to outside centre in place of Mike Mullins while Dominic Crotty comes into full back for benched Staunton.
"We have the Autumn internationals coming up and we also have the responsibility of getting players up to international standard. From both points of view we don't want to overplay players, so, for example players like Alan Quinlan and Mick Galwey get a break this time," said Kidney. Both Mullins and Staunton are named as replacements as are John Hayes, Galwey and Quinlan.
There are a number of competitive areas in the Irish squad not least who will partner Brian O'Driscoll in the centre. With Henderson still injured, the selectors are looking for an inside centre to complement O'Driscoll's match breaking ability. Kevin Maggs, Shane Horgan and t Jonathan Bell are named along with Mullins.
Eric Miller, who was playing his best rugby at the end of last season, also features in a talented bunch of back-row players. David Wallace, Anthony Foley, Simon Easterby, Kieron Dawson and Quinlan all figure.
IRISH SQUAD - Forwards: P Clohessy (Young Munster), J Hayes (Shannon), J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), E Byrne (St Mary's College), K Wood (Harlequins), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), S Byrne (Blackrock College), M O'Kelly (St Mary's College), J Davidson (Dungannon), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), G Longwell (Ballymena), M Galwey (Shannon), A Foley (Shannon), D Wallace (Garryowen), S Easterby (Llanelli), K Dawson (London Irish), A Quinlan (Shannon), E Miller (Terenure College). Backs: P Stringer (Shannon), G Easterby (Llanelli), B O'Meara (Cork Constitution), R O'Gara (Cork Constitution), D Humphreys (Dungannon), P Burke (Harlequins), K Maggs (Bath), S Horgan (Lansdowne), J Bell (Dungannon), B O'Driscoll (Blackrock College), M MUllins (Young Munster), D Hickie (St Mary's College), T Howe (Dungannon), A Horgan (Cork Constitution), M Mostyn (Newport), G Dempsey (Terenure College), G Murphy (Leicester), J Staunton (Garryowen)
MUNSTER (v Neath): D Crotty; J O'Neill, J Holland, J Kelly, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy (capt.), F Sheahan, M Cahill, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, J Williams, D Wallace, A Foley.
