And so the race is on. With every player's ambition sharpened by the ultimate target of a 30-man World Cup squad come October, a marker of sorts was thrown down yesterday when the Irish management announced a 31-man squad for a three-day training camp at Naas rugby club starting today.
The first squad of a calendar year, which as things stand will incorporate 15 internationals and could theoretically rise to 18 if Ireland reached the World Cup final, will be trimmed on Friday to 22 for the opening Six Nations game away to Scotland on Sunday week. The starting line-up and replacements for that match will be announced next Wednesday.
In effect 10 players have been added to the 22-man squad, minus the injured Justin Bishop (fractured finger), who did duty in the win over Argentina last November. Among the backs, Denis Hickie, John Kelly and Rob Henderson have been recalled, having been ruled out from that game by injury, as has Gordon D'Arcy, along with Simon Easterby and Eric Miller up front.
The performance of the Ulster pack in Europe has been rewarded with call-ups for the rejuvenated Jeremy Davidson and Justin Fitzpatrick, as well as Simon Best. The torn calf Emmet Byrne sustained in Leinster's defeat to Ulster on Friday will sideline him for at least six weeks, and compounds Paul Wallace's career-threatening ankle problems - hence the inclusion of five props. Aside from Best, the only other uncapped inclusion is the Leinster centre David Quinlan.
Henderson's stunning return to action in Saturday's Celtic League final heightens the options among the backs, where Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is hopeful Girvan Dempsey will be fit in time for the Scottish game given he's back training and doing some running. Likewise, Ronan O'Gara might be limited in what he can do this week but should be fine for Murrayfield.
Meanwhile, the Munster management have decided to refer the incident in which Neath's Brett Sinkinson stamped on O'Gara in Saturday's Celtic League final to the IRFU disciplinary sub-committee.
"Having looked at the video more clearly, we have decided to send the tape up to Dublin," said Munster coach Alan Gaffney yesterday. "Thankfully 'Rog' had a scan which confirmed he's okay. But it's not the damage that was done, it's the damage that could have been done."
The IRFU's disciplinary chairman Peter Boyle has 48 hours to decide whether to refer the matter to the Welsh union, who will then decide whether Sinkinson has a case to answer by way of a hearing.
FORWARDS: Simon Best (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones), Victor Costello (Leinster/St Mary's), Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock), Jeremy Davidson (Ulster/Dungannon), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon), Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon) vice-captain, Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St Mary's), John Hayes (Munster/Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon), Gary Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Eric Miller (Leinster/Terenure), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster/St Mary's), Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon), Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution).
BACKS: Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster/Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Rob Henderson (Munster/Young Munster), Denis Hickie (Leinster/St Mary's), Shane Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne), David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon) vice-captain, John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock) captain, David Quinlan (Leinster/Blackrock), Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon).
NOT CONSIDERED (due to injury): Jonathan Bell (Ulster/Dungannon), Justin Bishop (London Irish), Emmet Byrne (Leinster/St Mary's), Tyrone Howe (Ulster/Dungannon), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Young Munster), David Wallace (Munster/Garryowen), Paul Wallace (Lenister/Blackrock), Keith Wood (Harlequins).
