Two Changes and a New Captain

The two changes on the Ireland side to face Australia on Saturday, Shane Horgan on the wing,Victor Costello in the back-row and a new captain in 23 year old Brian O’Driscoll,
were the main talking points after the side was announced in Greystones RFC. yesterday (Tuesday).

Perhaps not surprisingly, Horgan comes back into the side, after injury, for John Kelly and while the inclusion of Costello is hardly surprising, given his recent form for Leinster, his selection at blindside flanker did raise a few eyebrows at yesterday’s press conference.
However, coach Eddie O’Sullivan explained that, “in the modern game I don’t think it’s a major issue whether you play six or eight.”
The vacancy left in the backs is to see if Denis Hickie’s hand injury continues to respond to treatment with a final decision on his availability expected tomorrow (Thursday) at the latest.

Ireland. G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll (capt), K Maggs, AN Other; R O’Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes; G Longwell, M O’Kelly; V Costello, K Gleeson, A Foley.

Replacements: F Sheahan, P Wallace, L Cullen, A Quinlan, G Easterby, D Humphreys, AN Other.