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33 Men – One RBS Six Nations 2008

A mixture of youth and experience that reflects the form of players in the Heineken Cup and Magners League will be the answer to this campaign.

O’Sullivan is hoping his extended 33-man panel can guide us back to where want to be.

Cian Healy and Jonathan Sexton have earnt a call up after progressing all the way through from Ireland Schools, along with Tony Buckley.

There are a few post World Cup recalls in Leo Cullen, Jamie Heaslip and Bernard Jackson.

The fierce competition continues in the backs, a competition that has dominated Ireland squad selections for years. Johnny O’Connor just edges out Keith Gleeson. Mick O’Driscoll also edges his way into the second row.

In addition to uncapped out-half Sexton being one of the 15 backs named in the squad, Robert Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and Tommy Bowe are all added to the back division for the tournament.

Eddie O’Sullivan commented on the tournament:

“The Six Nations represents a great opportunity for the squad to get back to the standards we have achieved in the past.

“It is the tournament that we always want to do well in and this year’s championship is really open with no clear favourites. So it really is a case of only looking forward to your next game, which starts (for us) with an Italy side who always begin the tournament well.”

IRELAND 2008 RBS 6 NATIONS SQUAD

FORWARDS (18):

  • Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
  • Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
  • Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
  • Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
  • Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets)
  • Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
  • John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
  • Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
  • Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
  • Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
  • Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)
  • Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
  • Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
  • Johnny O’Connor (Corinthians/Connacht)
  • Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
  • Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
  • Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)
  • David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

BACKS (15):

  • Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
  • Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
  • Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
  • Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
  • Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
  • Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
  • Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
  • Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers)
  • Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
  • Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
  • Eoin Reddan (London Wasps)
  • Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
  • Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
  • Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
  • Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

NOT CONSIDERED DUE TO INJURY:

  • Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins)
  • Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
  • Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

 

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January 16th, 2008 | Posted in Six Nations | 4 Comments »


Comments (4)

 

  1. This is YOUR Ireland Team too! says:
    January 16, 2008 at 8:42 am

    [...] ireland-rugby.com The home of Irish Rugby « 33 Men – One RBS Six Nations 2008 [...]

  2. Big Ed says:
    January 21, 2008 at 11:41 pm

    Let’s hope the Irish media are supportive rather than destructive, shall we? Would make for a better tournament all round!

  3. Ireland Rugby says:
    January 22, 2008 at 8:31 am

    Couldn’t agree more – what do you think the chances of that are after the World Cup though?

  4. Big Ed says:
    January 22, 2008 at 8:34 am

    Hey in order to sell papers, ya never know what they might do. Far from being called “Independent” – they are in business to sell papers just as much as editorialise!

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