...Teenager Luke Fitzgerald at home in Ireland's 'red' training jersey...

NEW MEN UNITED: The arrival of Test debutants Luke Fitzgerald and Stephen Ferris has boosted the Manchester United-supporting contingent in the Irish dressing room, led by team captain Brian O'Driscoll.

Both Fitzgerald, 19, and the 21-year-old Ferris are committed Red Devils and whatever about the trio finding time to watch United's Premiership clash with Chelsea on Sunday, O'Driscoll cannot wait to see what Fitzgerald can offer on Ireland's right wing against the Pacific Islanders.

O'Driscoll, a long-time United fan since the days of Mark 'Sparky' Hughes, said: "It's a massively exciting time for Luke. The guy has only just turned 19 and he finds himself given a chance in a Test match. It's fully deserved, given his form so far this year.

"You would never think the guy is still a teenager. He plays very well, has a great attitude and is far more mature than you'd expect a 19-year-old to be. Even in the professional era he goes further than the distance required. Invariably he's been trying to kick off either foot, turning up early for training and leaving late."

And Girvan Dempsey, Ireland's full-back for Sunday, reports that Fitzgerald has even been tackling Paul O'Connell in training - "Luke's not afraid to get stuck in at training. It's a credit to him he's been able to handle everything (the call-up, the media attention) so well," admitted Dempsey.

WAR DANCE TO WHIP UP A STORM: Leading the Pacific Islanders in their traditional pre-match war dance, or 'Siva Tau', on Sunday will be the half-naked duo of Dominic Fonoti and Freddie Tuilagi, who will show off their tribal tattoos in full glory against the Lansdowne chill.

Both are proud Samoans and ex-Blues player Tuilagi, who is a chief back home in his village, divulged the lengths that he has gone to be tattooed. He said: "I was tattooed by hand for 12 days for three hours a day, using a boar's tooth dipped in water that had been mixed with the soot from a burnt coconut to make the ink."

Facing into the wintry Dublin conditions, Fonoti will gain courage and strength from Phillipians 4.13 - 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'

The Fijian words to the Siva Tau are: "Get ready, get wild and prepare for battle. We are ready, we are ready. Samoa's are: "I am the warrior, we are the warriors from Samoa," while Tongan throats yell: "We are going to hit you, tackle you and drop you. And stay down man, we're the Pacific!"

...Paul O'Connell on the charge at Friday's training session, with his Munster team-mates Donncha O'Callaghan and John Hayes at close quarters...

SAY WHAT?: "Stephen was doing weights beside me on Monday and he was phenomenally strong, he's a seriously powerful athlete. We were saying a few injuries will soften his cough! Seriously, like the whole Ulster back row, he is brilliant at counter-rucking, slowing them up an extra two seconds or so."

- Ireland lock Paul O'Connell gives his view on Ulster back row Stephen Ferris who will make his Test debut against the Pacific Islanders this weekend

"There were times when this was not looking likely, including a year ago when things were really rock bottom for me. I have had some tough times but you have to fight your way out of those black holes and look at the areas you need to improve in. I took my chance with Ulster at the end of last season and have not missed a game since."

- Ireland's 'new' out-half Paddy Wallace who, four years after his first senior call-up, will make his first start for the men in green on Sunday. Last year he played most of his rugby at club level for Ballymena and was almost lured over to Castres on a loan deal but it fell through

"It's been a great performance from Paul to get in this group because he's played in a team that's performed very consistently - they were quite unlucky to lose two Test matches to New Zealand. O'Connell has come through, getting on top of players who are better known in the Irish team like Brian O'Driscoll, which is a great achievement."

- Australia's former World Cup-winning captain John Eales talks about Paul O'Connell's nomination for the IRB World Player of the Year award. Eales is chairman of the judging panel

NUMBERS GAME: 6 - The number of players in the Irish squad for Sunday's Test against the Islanders that played in 2003's 40-14 win over Samoa at Apia Park. They include Ronan O'Gara, who amassed 32 points (2 tries, 2 conversions, 5 penalties and a drop goal), Girvan Dempsey, Gordon D'Arcy, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell and Simon Easterby.

18 - In their last three outings against Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, Ireland have accumulated 18 tries whilst conceding only six. Kevin Maggs (3), Ronan O'Gara, John Kelly, Guy Easterby and Geordan Murphy (2 each) have been in try-scoring form.

25 - Saturday, November the 25th, marks the 101st anniversary of the first ever Ireland-New Zealand Test match against Lansdowne Road. The All Blacks won 15-0 back then with centre Bob Deans scoring two tries.

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