D’Arcy limped off halfway through, whilst O’Connell managed to complete the match, they’ll be monitored carefully over the next few days ahead of the team announcement for the Russia game.

O’Driscoll will return after missing the last two defeats against Scotland and France in what seems to be an almost full strength Ireland squad.

D’Arcy gets his first game of the season, moving Earls from centre on to the left wing. O’Brien will move to number six with Heaslip and O’Connell to start. Stephen Ferris returning after a serious knee injury in January is named in the replacements.

The hotly contested half-back partnership is made up of Sexton and O’Leary this time.

Kearney is not included after his groin injury at the weekend but should be back in training by the end of the week. Bowe has been involved in full training but sits out this one.

With Kidney naming his squad on Monday this is the last chance to make an impression for some players, as you’d have to expect Kidney to have most of the team already inked in.

This is precisely the feeling that Gordon D’Arcy and Geordan Murphy had when they heard the announcement that they are set to play for the Baa Baas. While they are going to face one another in the Heineken Cup final when Leinster take on Leicester, they will be on the same side the following week.

The Barbarians are set to take on England at Twickenham on May 30. There are also other Irish players in the side including Rocky Elsom and Doug Howlett.

While both players are thrilled with the news, they have for now got more immediate things to focus on as they prepare for the huge final that awaits them next week.

BARBARIANS 2009 SUMMER TOUR Squad: Backs (12) - Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues & New Zealand), Doug Howlett (Munster & New Zealand)*, Seilala Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa), Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks & New Zealand)*, Josh Lewsey (London Wasps & England)*, Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers & Ireland), Ian Balshaw (Gloucester & England), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster & Ireland)*, Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon)*, Peter Grant (Stormers & South Africa), Justin Marshall (Saracens & New Zealand), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz Olympique & France)*.

Forwards (12) - Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France), Schalk Brits (Stormers & South Africa), Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets & Wales)*, Greg Somerville (Gloucester & New Zealand)*, BJ Botha (Ulster & South Africa)*, Justin Harrison (Bath & Australia), Chris Jack (Saracens & New Zealand), Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues)*, Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers & England), Jerry Collins (Toulon & New

The Wales center has reportedly been ruled out for sixteen weeks and is set to have to go through some intensive therapy. This will follow reconstructive surgery on his shoulder joint.

The Cardiff Blues player’s colleagues and management expressed their sadness and sympathy that he will not be able to join the Lions’ Tour. He has had a cracker season for the Blues this year, taking them to victory in their league.

There is now speculation that Ireland’s Gordon D’Arcy could be called up to replace the injured Shanklin.

The center partnership between these two players is often thought to be Ireland’s most successful ever. There is a great deal of understanding between them as they have played together for many years at both a club and national level.  Also joining the team include Rory Best, Peter Stringer and Denis Loamy – all of whom have been recognized as talented players that can make a vital impact on the game.

This weekend’s match is at Murrayfield and the Irish are going to have to pull out something extra special to maintain their unbeaten record and keep the hopes of a Grand Slam alive.

Irish Team

15 - Robert Kearney (UCD – Leinster)

14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 - Brian O’Driscoll (UCD – Leinster) (capt)

12 - Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne – Leinster)

11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College – Leinster)

10 - Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution – Munster)

9 - Peter Stringer (Shannon – Munster)

1 - Marcus Horan (Shannon – Munster)

2 - Rory Best (Banbridge – Ulster)

3 - John Hayes (Bruff – Munster)

4 - Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution – Munster)

5 - Paul O’Connell (Young Munster – Munster)

6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon – Ulster)

7 - David Wallace (Garryowen – Munster)

8 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution – Munster)

Replacements:

16 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon – Munster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone – Ulster)
18 - Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution – Munster)
19 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas – Leinster)
20 - Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin – Munster)
21 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena – Ulster)
22 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

This leaves (in the absence of Trimble AND D’Arcy) Brian O’Driscoll as the only recognised centre. Munster’s Ian Dowling has been called up, along with Leinster rookie Luke Fitzgerald to assist.

D’Arcy broke his arm in seven places during a tackle on Andrea Masi against Italy in the Six Nations clash at Croke Park. The injury required a six inch titanium plate be inserted in his forarm.

D’Arcy had hope to play in Leinster’s Magners League title run-in. But has to have further surgery as one of the breaks has not healed sufficiently.

A stress fracture of the forearm, will mean the end of Gordon D’Arcy’s Six Nations campaign and an operation on Monday.

It’s likely that Trimble will line-up alongside O’Driscoll now.

Shane Horgan picked up the Try of the Year (for the second year running) for his try against England at Croke.

Former Leinster loose forward Victor Costello was inducted into Ireland’s Hall of Fame and at the other end of the scale fullback/wing Luke Fitzgerald collected the Young Player of the Year award.

D’arcy missed out on the overall Player of the Six Nations award to Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll, but is the first player to have won this award twice!

Gordon D’Arcy, says the French centre Jo Maso, is a fantastic player, more creative than Brian O’Driscoll.

And the frenchman, Maso insists: “For me, D’Arcy is a better player, a different player to Brian O’Driscoll. He is more creative. O’Driscoll is an opportunist, a very talented performer. But if you look at it, O’Driscoll scores many tries as a wing, not a centre. And often, the opportunities are created by D’Arcy. For me, he is a wonderful player.”

 (What is this a mutual respect society?)

D’Arcy has always been fascinated by the French game, and will have a tough call when his contract runs out in 2010.

“It will be a tough decision knowing what to do when my present contract runs out in 2010. I’ll just be turning 31 then. Would I stay in Ireland and go to the 2011 World Cup if I’m still in the national team? Or join a French club? If I went abroad, that would be it from an international point of view.

“But it is still an ambition of mine to do that. You would be broadening your horizons and seeing a new part of the world. French rugby has always fascinated me.”

French Rugby is gruelling though, their season will practically runs for an entire year, where the IRFU has tried to create the perfect scenario for it’s players.

D’Arcy is, together with O’Driscoll and Jauzion, one of the best centres in the northern hemisphere. But even at 27, D’Arcy acknowledges the ageing process.

“Rugby is a highly attritional sport. I am noticing it now. It is taking me two days to recover from games whereas it used to be one.”

With the creative genius of D’Arcy in midfield in the Sadio Flaminio this weekend, and the warm sun on his back. Close your eyes and you see flashes of Maso, the master, in his full glory!