Mark McCall
Age: 30. Caps: 12. Club: Dungannon.
Having taken five seasons to win his first six caps, McCall doubled his haul last year when he became a regular, except when ruled out by injury. Has made limited impact in the modernday minefield of midfield weightlifters because of his size, but he is a brave tackler and a better ball-player than he's given credit for. However, a worrying neck injury has sidelined him for the November internationals.
Kevin Maggs
Age: 24. Caps: 9. Club: Bath.
A useful utility threequarter, as he underlined with a 4 1/2-game workload in South Africa. What he does, he does well, most notably in a straight-running, big yardage performance against the Springboks in first Test. However, a switch from Bristol's firsts to Bath's bench doesn't augur well for his international prospects.
Rob Henderson
Age: 25. Caps: 5. Club: Wasps.
A big-hearted, bulldozing centre equipped for modern game, although more as an archetypal crash-ball inside centre as opposed to outside. Has reputedly begun season well at Wasps and is possibly favoured to partner Jonathan Bell as inside centre at this stage for the World Cup qualifier against Georgia. But he will need a few good performances to nail down place.
Killian Keane
Age: 27. Caps: 1. Club: Garryowen.
AS a converted out-half, Killian Keane is a nice footballer, a good goalkicker, who gives 100 per cent and likes to take the ball on. Hard to judge at the highest level because his opportunities have been limited. Blended in fine as a replacement in Twickenham and as a replacement against Boland in tour opener in South Africa, but his hopes of making the breakthrough are probably not being helped by Munster moving him between positions.
Jonathan Bell
Age: 24. Caps: 21. Club: Dungannon.
Rich potential not quite fulfilled so far. There's definitely a touch of class about him, as he is strong with a good break and a good sidestep. Not a crash tackler and perhaps better suited to outside centre. Ruled out with injury last year but he is back in contention and must be favoured to regain his place, although he has been worryingly injury prone since the last of 21 caps two seasons ago.
Brian Carey
Age: 24. Caps: 0. Club: Blackrock.
A bit of an enigma. Pacey, with quick feet, he has a smashing break but is always capable of doing something daft and can be inconsistent, an image which the white boots don't do anything to rectify. He is injury prone, with dodgy knees. Plenty of football in him, enough to be looked upon as a converted out-half by Leinster.
Mervyn Murphy
Age: 26. Caps: 0. Club: Galwegians.
A week younger than his club and provincial partner Pat Duignan, for whom he is the classic foil. A big, strong aggressive tackler, with the ability to take the ball over the gain-line and recycle it. A former out-half and under-rated long passer - witness the A game against England last year - who has worked hard on his game. Lets mistakes get to him and perhaps needs a bit more self-belief and consistency.
Shane Horgan
Age: 20. Caps: 0. Club: Lansdowne.
Rapidly maturing on and off pitch, Horgan is a seriously talented footballer with the physical capacity to grow even more. Can take on his man or pass with ball in one hand. Quick with a youthful eye for an opening and not afraid to take risks and fine defender. Should go all the way eventually.
Brian O'Driscoll
Age: 19. Caps: 0. Club: UCD.
The most eye-catching performer in the A interprovincials, O'Driscoll heads a posse of Leinster tyros which also includes Shane Moore (the Irish under-19 World Cup winning captain who plays for the Academy against Canada tomorrow) and highly regarded Leinster A team-mate Dermot O'Sullivan. A fine passer, as you'd expect of a recently converted scrum-half, and a powerful line-straightening runner. Currently injured but has time. If he can handle the hype and gets an even break, he must go all the way.
