Flannery & Bowe earn recalls in Six Nations
Jerry Flannery has the nod for the RBS Six Nations after recovering from shoulder trouble, along with Tommy Bowe who also missed the autumn internationals with a hamstring injury.
O’Sullivan has also called-up uncapped Leinster winger Robert Kearney and Munster centre Barry Murphy, in his expanded 35 man party.
Trevor Hogan (2 caps Japan, 2005), returns to the squad along with Munster second row Mick O’Driscoll.
Those missing out this time round include Stephen Ferris (hand injury) and Alan Quinlan (suspension).
O’Sullivan said: “The championship is a long and hard tournament that will always test your resources, so I felt that we needed to increase our squad to 35 to give us some extra cover.”
“We have a good injury profile at the moment and with the return of players from injury, such as Tommy Bowe and Jerry Flannery as well as the other additions to the squad, it will push up the competition levels.”
“While there are not many changes from November, the squad is always selected on form and this group reflects that.”
“We were pleased with how the Guinness Autumn Series went, but this tournament is a step up and we will have to raise our performances another level.”
“An away trip to the Millennium Stadium to play Wales is one of the toughest openings you could get at this moment in time and all we will be focusing on is trying to get the right performance against an excellent Welsh team.”
“We were pleased with how the (November) series went, but this tournament is a step up and we will have to raise our performances another level,” O’Driscoll said.
Irish rugby is on a high after comprehensive victories over South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands during the autumn.
Ireland Squad:
Forwards: Neil Best, Rory Best, Simon Best, Simon Easterby, Jerry Flannery, Keith Gleeson, John Hayes, Jamie Heaslip, Trevor Hogan, Marcus Horan, Denis Leamy, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Mick O’Driscoll, Malcolm O’Kelly, Frankie Sheahan, David Wallace, Bryan Young.
Backs: Isaac Boss, Tommy Bowe, Girvan Dempsey, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Robert Kearney, John Kelly, Barry Murphy, Geordan Murphy, Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Eoin Reddan, Peter Stringer, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace.
Irish rugby is on a high after comprehensive victories over South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands during the autumn.