New Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has played it pretty safe with his first Ireland squad announcement, although there are a couple of surprises in the 34-man panel for the November series.
Schmidt has named three uncapped players in Leinster duo Dave Kearney and Jack McGrath and Munster back-row forward James Coughlan, with the likes of Donnacha Ryan, Simon Zebo, Richardt Strauss and Iain Henderson all unavailable for selection because of injury.
Robbie Henshaw is the only Connacht representative in the squad, while Johnny Sexton is the only player of the 34 not plying his trade in Ireland at present. Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne will be considered a surprise omission considering his impact during the Six Nations earlier this year, while the experienced Andrew Trimble also misses out.
Commenting on the squad, Schmidt said: “The squad combines players who have shown form in the domestic season mixed with those who have a proven record at international level.
“As always there were some very difficult decisions. Some players have had limited opportunity to impress due to injury and others have performed very well and it was difficult to leave them out.
“The Guinness Series will demand plenty from the squad and I know they’ll be motivated by the challenge.”
The IRFU have announced that tickets for the clash against New Zealand on November 24 have already sold out, while tickets for the games against Australia on November 16 and Samoa on November 9 are selling out fast.
Ireland squad for November internationals:
Backs
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
Forwards
Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
James Coughlan (Dolphin/Munster)
Tom Court (Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
