Squad Profiles: Ireland

Want to find out more about the Ireland matchday squad that will take on England in the final round of the 2008 RBS Six Nations championship at Twickenham on Saturday? IrishRugby.ie brings you the Irish player bios, compiled by SAS Software.

IRELAND MATCHDAY SQUAD (v England, Twickenham, Saturday, March 15):

15: GEORDAN MURPHY (LEICESTER TIGERS)

19.04.78, 6-0, 13-8
56th cap – 18 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty goal, 1 drop goal = 98 points
Debut: 2000 v USA
5th Test v England – no points
RBS man-of-the-match in his last match v Scotland
First cap v Scotland 2008 at full-back since Scotland in the World Cup warm-up test in August 2007
2 games at the 2007 World Cup – replacement in opener v Namibia, starter and try v Argentina
Is 5th on Ireland all-time try scoring list, one behind Girvan Dempsey, two behind Shane Horgan
Played in 10 of Ireland’s 11 Tests of 2006, rested v Pacific Islanders, but 8 tests of 14 in 2007
Has scored 13 tries from full-back and 5 tries from the wings
Broke leg v Scotland in final 2003 World Cup warm-up Test in September 2003. Missed the tournament
Played in 3rd Test for the Lions v New Zealand in 2005, and also for Lions v Argentina in 2005
In England with Leicester Tigers since 1997 after moving from Naas RFC, and is currently in his 11th season with Tigers
Won Heineken Cup medals in 2001 and 2002
Has started on both wings and at full-back and centre for Ireland

14: TOMMY BOWE (BELFAST HARLEQUINS/ULSTER)

22.02.84, 6-3, 14-0
13th cap – 5 tries = 25 points
Debut: 2004 v USA
1st Test v England
2 tries on recall v Scotland 2008, his previous cap was in the World Cup warm-up game against Scotland in August 2007
Had missed 14 Tests from the 43-31 defeat to France in 2006 until recall v Argentina on 2007 summer tour
Tries also v USA 2004 and on tour in Japan in 2005 in first two Tests, and in his first Six Nations game v Italy in 2006
First call-up for senior squad for 2004 autumn Tests, had only played a dozen times for Ulster. Now has 31 tries in 84 Ulster games
Impressed with Ireland Under-21 (team reached World Championship final in 2004, but he was injured en route) and with Ulster in the Celtic League
Can also play at full-back

13: ANDREW TRIMBLE (BALLYMENA/ULSTER)

20.10.84, 6-2, 15-6
24th cap – 8 tries = 40 points
Debut: 2005 v Australia
3rd Test v England – no points
2 games at the 2007 World Cup, with try in the opener v Namibia
7th cap in the centre, 9 caps on left wing, 3 caps on right wing and 5 Tests as a replacement. Missed last two 2006 autumn series Tests through injury and replaced by returning Denis Hickie. Now has further chances following Hickie’s retirement after the 2007 World Cup and a broken arm suffered by Gordon D’Arcy v Italy 2008
First call-up for the 2005 autumn series Tests
4th season with Ulster Rugby and has 21 tries in 52 games for Ulster
Former Ireland Schools and Under-21 centre, he is affiliated with the Ballymena club

12: SHANE HORGAN (BOYNE/LEINSTER)

18.07.78, 6-4, 16-5
61st cap – 20 tries = 100 points
Debut: 2000 v Scotland
6th Test v England – 3 tries = 15 points (2 tries in 2006, 1 try in 2007)
Recently bothered with a rib injury, made comeback for Ireland ‘A’ v England Saxons on February 1, and returned to the matchday 22 v France
Played in Ireland’s final three pool games at the 2007 World Cup
Started 11 Tests in the centre before England 2008
Now has only Brian O’Driscoll (31) and Denis Hickie (29) ahead of him in the Ireland all-time try list
Has been in the Leinster squad since 1998
A replacement for the 2005 Lions v Argentina and v New Zealand (all 3 Tests)
One of 5 current players who made their Test debuts v Scotland in 2000 immediately after the 50-18 loss at Twickenham (Shane Horgan, Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, John Hayes and Simon Easterby)

11: ROBERT KEARNEY (UCD/LEINSTER)

26.03.86, 6-1, 14-13
6th cap – 1 try = 5 points
Debut: 2007 v Argentina
Ist Test v England
1st Test try v Scotland 2008, 1st test at full-back v Wales 2008
On for Gordon D’Arcy (broken arm) v Italy 2008 after 31 minutess and has retained his place
Played for Ireland at Schools, Under-19 (captain) and ‘A’ levels, then won first full cap on the 2007 summer tour to Argentina
Debut for Leinster in September 2005 – he has played 57 games for the province since then, scoring 13 tries
Student at UCD. Hails from Dundalk in County Louth and his teenage brother David is currently a starting full-back/winger for the Ireland Under-20 side

10: RONAN O’GARA (CORK CONSTITUTION/MUNSTER) (capt)

07.03.77, 6-0, 13-1
82nd cap – 14 tries, 127 conversions, 155 penalty goals, 11 drop goals = 822 points
Debut: 2000 v Scotland
8th Test v England – 1 try (in 2002), 7 conversions, 16 penalty goals, 2 drop goals = 73 points
1st Test as captain of Ireland, has captained Munster this season in Paul O’Connell’s absence
Wins in 5 of his previous 7 games v England
Has 438 Six Nations points to date – second behind Jonny Wilkinson (479) and ahead of Neil Jenkins (406)
Now 8th on world record points scoring lists – South Africa’s Percy Montgomery is 7th with 873 points
Top of the points list for the 2005 and 2006 and 2007 Six Nations tournaments
First points and try scorer for Ireland at Croke Park (v France 2007) and also RBS man-of-the-match for scoring all 17 points in the 20-17 defeat to Les Bleus
One of the players who made their Test debuts v Scotland in 2000 immediately after the 50-18 loss at Twickenham
2005 Lions v New Zealand – 3rd Test (replacement)
Has played in three Heineken Cup finals with Munster, with 13 points in the 23-19 final win over Biarritz in 2006. Also a Lions tourist in 2001 to Australia

9: EOIN REDDAN (LONDON WASPS)

20.11.80, 5-7, 12-8
10th cap – no points
Debut: 2006 v France
1st Test v England
RBS man-of-the-match v Italy 2008 in his first Six Nations start
Signed a new three-year deal with Wasps last month
Started the last 2 pool games at the 2007 World Cup – winning his place ahead of Peter Stringer and Isaac Boss – and first choice at the start of the 2008 Six Nations
Made Test debut v France in 43-31 loss in 2006 with Ireland at one stage 43-3 down
4th season with Wasps, initially vied with Matt Dawson for scrum half role, has collected 2006 Powergen Cup and 2007 Heineken Cup winners medals
Missed 2006 summer tour to rectify groin problem, late starter in 2006/07 season, missed 2006 autumn Tests, but back in the national squad for 2007
Originally with Munster (understudy to Stringer) and Connacht

1: MARCUS HORAN (SHANNON/MUNSTER)

07.09.77, 6-1, 16-8
56th cap – 6 tries = 30 points
Debut: 2000 v USA
5th Test v England – no points
Has overtaken Peter Clohessy (54 caps) to move into third place in the Ireland props caps list behind Phil Orr (58) and John Hayes (83)
All 4 2007 World Cup games as a starter, 7 of the 8 forwards started all 4 games (hooker changed)
Played in 28 of the previous 31 Ireland Tests before injury before Scotland 2007 match since suffering back injury in 2004 – had previously played 16 times in 18 Tests before that injury
Played in all 5 games at the 2003 World Cup
Has come through to replace Peter Clohessy and Reggie Corrigan, and was originally used as an impact player
Won 2 AIB League titles with Shannon, and a 2006 Heineken Cup with Munster
Munster Schools in 1996, senior provincial debut in 1998 and capped as a replacement v USA on Ireland’s 2000 summer tour. Played 13 times for Ireland ‘A’ before promotion in 2002

2: RORY BEST (BELFAST HARLEQUINS/ULSTER)

15.09.82, 5-11, 16-10
22nd cap – 3 tries = 15 points
Debut: 2005 v New Zealand
2nd Test v England – no points
Played in 3 of the 4 2007 World Cup games – started the first two games v Namibia and Georgia (try), then a replacement v Argentina. The other 7 forwards started all 4 games
Started each game in the 2007 Six nations
First Test try v Pacific Islanders (2006), then 2nd try after 45 seconds v Wales in 2007 in his next game. Third try at the 2007 World Cup v Georgia
Started v South Africa and Australia in 2006 for the injured Jerry Flannery (shoulder), who played nine games in a row during the 2005/06 season, and then retained place for all of the 2007 Six Nations ties
Impressed in Heineken Cup to first claim place in Ulster squad
5th season with Ulster, is the brother of the recently retired Simon Best. He is affiliated with Belfast Harlequins, as is unrelated flanker Neil Best
Educated at Portadown College and Newcastle University, he was with Ireland at the 2003 Under-21 World Championship

3: JOHN HAYES (BRUFF/MUNSTER)

02.11.73, 6-4, 19-10
84th cap – 2 tries = 10 points
Debut: 2000 v Scotland
8th Test v England – no points
Wins in 5 of his previous 7 games v England
2nd equal on Ireland’s all time caps list on 83 caps with Brian O’Driscoll
Test tries v Romania in 2002 and Scotland in 2005
Passed Phil Orr (58 caps) as Ireland’s most capped prop
All 4 2007 World Cup games as starter
Played in the first 15 Tests of 2006 and 2007 before being rested for the 2007 summer tour to Argentina
2005 Lions v Argentina, did not make the test side in New Zealand
His first 34 caps came in 35 Tests (rested v USA in summer 2000) until injured before the 2003 summer tour. Missed 6 Tests before the 2003 World Cup after a groin injury. Then had a run of 20 successive Tests up to the 2005 Lions tour
First game of rugby aged 18, with Bruff RFC in Limerick, then moved to Shannon aged 20 and went on to win the 1995 AIB League title. Then went to New Zealand between 1995 and 1997 (Invercargill), but back to help Shannon win the 1998 title. Now back with Bruff
Heineken Cup final losses in 2000 and 2002 and then the win of 2006
One of the players who made their Test debuts v Scotland in 2000 immediately after the 50-18 loss at Twickenham

4: DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN (CORK CONSTITUTION/MUNSTER)

24.03.79, 6-6, 17-5
45th cap – 1 try = 5 points
Debut: 2003 v Wales
3rd Test v England – no points
All 4 2007 World Cup games as a starter, and also a constant starter in the 2008 Six Nations
Came into the Ireland training squad for the 2003 Six Nations after Gary Longwell tore his hamstring v France. Test debut v Wales in the 25-24 success at Cardiff
Scored his first Test try v France in 2006 in the fine recovery from 43-3 to 43-31
Had appeared in all of Ireland’s 18 Tests since the start of 2005 autumn series – until rested for the 2007 summer tour
Played 2nd and 3rd Tests for the Lions v New Zealand in 2005
Some 100-plus games for Munster despite internationals Mick Galwey, Mick O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell also featuring in his position. Progressed via the Ireland Under-19s (1998 world champions), the U-21s and ‘A’ side.
A 2006 Heineken Cup winner

5: PAUL O’CONNELL (YOUNG MUNSTER/MUNSTER)

20.10.79, 6-6, 17-7
52nd cap – 6 tries = 30 points
Debut: 2002 v Wales
4th Test v England – no points
RBS man-of-the-match in England’s record home internationals defeat at Croke Park in 2007
Returned to win his 50th cap v Scotland from the replacements bench after playing all 4 games at the 2007 World Cup but picking up a back injury
Scorer of the last Test try at Lansdowne Road (v Pacific Islanders in November 2006) and captain in the first game against France at Croke Park
Ireland captain v France 2004, Scotland 2005, France 2007 (Brian O’Driscoll had a hamstring tear each time) and Italy in August 2007
Won 25 caps in 27 Tests to the end of the 2005 Six Nations, and then went on the Lions tour, starting all 3 Tests. Then won 14 caps in 15 Tests from the start of 2006 until missing the final 2007 Six Nations game v Italy
Breakthrough at the 2003 World Cup – impressed in all 5 games (no points)
Munster debut in 1999, and started in the 2006 Heineken Cup final win. Has come through via the Development XV and Ireland ‘A’. From Limerick. He was a talented golfer (off 4) and swimmer who decided to concentrate on rugby

6: DENIS LEAMY (CORK CONSTITUTION/MUNSTER)

27.11.81, 6-2, 17-0
32nd cap – 1 try = 5 points
Debut: 2004 v USA
3rd Test v England – no points
5th start at number 6, after Japan on 2005 summer tour, and three Six Nations games in 2008
All 4 2007 World Cup games as a starter
First Test try in 2006 Triple Crown win v England
Played all 11 Tests of 2006, and 20 consecutive Tests before being rested for the 2007 summer tour to Argentina
24 Tests at number 8 (including replacement appearances), after replacing his Munster captain Anthony Foley. He started in all back row positions during his first four caps
Has played around 100 games for Munster in all competitions (including the Magners League and Heineken Cup). 2006 Heineken Cup winners medal at number 6
Capped at Schools and Under-21 levels by Ireland

7: DAVID WALLACE (GARRYOWEN/MUNSTER)

08.07.76, 6-2, 16-3
46th cap – 9 tries = 45 points
Debut: 2000 v Argentina
5th Test v England – 1 try = 5 points (in 2007 record win)
All 4 2007 World Cup games as starter, and also a constant starter in the 2008 Six Nations
Returned v Italy in opening Six Nations Test of 2006 after fine Heineken Cup form, he had previously played only once in 13 internationals (Japan in summer 2005) since 2004 summer tour. Had been injured
Then played 10 of 11 tests in 2006 (rested v Pacific Islanders). And all games in the 2007 Six Nations – then rested for summer tour
3 major long-term absences from Ireland line-up due to injury
A Lion in 2001, all 3 Wallace brothers (Richard, Paul, David) are British & Irish Lions
Ireland Development tour in 1997, then Under-21 and ‘A’ caps, then senior tour to South Africa in 1999 and 1st cap on 2000 senior tour in Argentina

8 JAMIE HEASLIP (CLONTARF/LEINSTER)

15.12.83, 6-3, 16-7
8th cap – no points
Debut: 2006 v Pacific Islanders
1st Test v England
Has appeared in all of Ireland’s Six Nations games in 2008
Had been cover in the squad before being brought in to the 2006 autumn series squad to win his first cap against the Pacific Islanders
Scorer of the final try at Lansdowne Road (Leinster v Ulster on New Year’s Eve 2006)
Was a nominee for the IRB Under-21 Player of the Year in 2004
Has played over 60 times for Leinster since making debut in March 2005 in Celtic League
Has come through the Ireland development system with caps at Under-19 and U-21 levels and played in 2005 and 2006 for Ireland ‘A’
Holds a mechanical engineering degree from DCU

REPLACEMENTS:

16: BERNARD JACKMAN (CLONTARF/LEINSTER)

05.05.76, 6-1, 17-13
9th cap (if he plays) – no points
Debut: 2005 v Japan
1st Test v England
First made the Ireland squad for the 1998 tour to South Africa, but not capped until Japan tour in 2005, and then again on the 2007 summer tour to Argentina and made his Six Nations debut as a replacement v Italy in 2008
Hooker from leading Leinster club side Clontarf, and the improving Connacht province (73 games), who returned to Leinster in 2005 and has made a marked improvement
47 games for Leinster to date
Formerly also with Lansdowne, he has also played for Sale Sharks in the Zurich Premiership (24 games)
From the Ireland ‘A’ squad, which he has captained

17: TONY BUCKLEY (SHANNON/MUNSTER)

08.10.80, 6-5, 21-1
7th cap (if he plays) – no points
Debut: 2007 v Argentina
1st Test v England
A replacement in all of Ireland’s 2006 Six Nations games for John Hayes to date
Late call up to the 2007 World Cup when Simon Best became ill
Former lock forward in his younger days
Munster debut in 2005, won the AIB League title with Shannon, and into national squad in 2007
Only 25 games for Munster to date since September 2005
First capped on the 2007 summer tour to Argentina, then Six Nations debut as a replacement v Italy 2008

18: MICK O’DRISCOLL (CORK CONSTITUTION/MUNSTER)

08.10.78, 6-5, 17-0
15th cap (if he plays) – no points
Debut: 2001 v Romania
2nd Test v England – no points
Recalled to the Ireland squad for the 2008 Six Nations
Not at the 2007 World Cup, previously capped on the 2007 summer tour to Argentina in both Tests
First Test start, v Italy 2007, nearly 6 years after his Test debut, and after first 8 Tests as a replacement
Third Test start v Scotland 2008
Ireland ‘A’ captain, and former Under-21 international back in 1998
Played for Munster since 1998 but spent 2003, 2004 and 2005 with French club Perpignan before returning to Munster. 2006 Heineken Cup win
Same club side as Donncha O’Callaghan, Denis Leamy and Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution)

19: SIMON EASTERBY (LLANELLI SCARLETS)

27.01.75, 6-3, 16-10
65th cap (if he plays) – 8 tries = 40 points
Debut: 2000 v Scotland
6th Test v England – no points
Has overtaken Anthony Foley (62 caps) as Ireland’s most capped back row forward
All 4 2007 World Cup games as a starter – try in the opener v Namibia
Played in all 2006 and 2007 Six Nations games but then rested for both subsequent summer tours
Captain in two 2005 autumn Tests v New Zealand and Australia, took over captaincy from the injured Brian O’Driscoll
Won 20 caps in a row before missing Japan summer tour 2005, as he went on Lions tour, played impressively in last 2 Tests v New Zealand, scored try in 2nd Lions Test, then returned to captain country
With the Llanelli Scarlets in Wales since their inception in 2003
Played for hometown Harrogate, then Leeds Tykes and was eligible for England, but then had a spell with Sydney University before joining Llanelli in 1999
Originally played for the Irish Exiles in early part of career and is younger brother of former Leinster scrum half Guy Easterby (28 caps, 2000 to 2005)
One of the players who made their Test debuts v Scotland in 2000 immediately after the 50-18 loss at Twickenham

20: PETER STRINGER (SHANNON/MUNSTER)

13.12.77, 5-7, 11-5
82nd cap (if he plays) – 6 tries = 30 points
Debut: 2000 v Scotland
8th Test v England – no points
Wins in 5 of his previous 7 games v England
Played first two games of the 2007 World Cup v Namibia and Georgia before Eoin Reddan was preferred
81 caps in 92 Ireland Tests and is 4th equal with O’Gara in the Ireland caps lists
54 Test starts with O’Gara after the 2007 World Cup – world record is Gregan and Larkham with 76 Tests
One of the players who made their Test debuts v Scotland in 2000 immediately after the 50-18 loss at Twickenham
Three Heineken Cup finals with Munster – losses in 2000 and 2002 and a try in the 2006 win over Biarritz

21: PADDY WALLACE (BALLYMENA/ULSTER)

27.08.79, 5-11, 12-11
8th cap (if he plays) – 1 try, 10 conversions, 6 penalty goals = 43 points
Debut: 2006 v South Africa
2nd Test v England – 1 conversion = 2 points (in 2007)
One game at the 2007 World Cup – replacement in opener v Namibia
Replacement v South Africa in added time in November 2006, then 26 points v Pacific Islanders on full debut. Was the first Ireland number 10 who was not David Humphreys or Ronan O’Gara for 78 Tests and 7 years (Eric Elwood v Romania at the 1999 World Cup)
And the first who was not Elwood, Humphreys or O’Gara in Ireland’s number 10 jersey for 10 years and 115 games (Paul Burke v Italy 1997)
Has been with Ulster since 2001, and though an out-half he found David Humphreys (72 caps) as first choice, so he became a utility player in the squad
Has played for Ireland at Under-19 (World Championship winners) Under-21, ‘A’ and Sevens levels, and has been in the full national squad since 2002
7th season in Ulster squad, and has played 100 games for the province

22: LUKE FITZGERALD (BLACKROCK COLLEGE/LEINSTER)

13.09.87, 6-1, 13-0
4th cap (if he plays) – no points
Debut: 2006 v Pacific Islanders
1st Test v England
First capped in November 2006 in 61-17 win over Pacific Islanders, 2nd cap as a replacement v Argentina on 2007 summer tour in 2nd test (16-0 defeat)
Then Six Nations game v Wales 2008 – replacement for the injured Brian O’Driscoll
Was the youngest player to make debut for Ireland since Alistair McKibben in 1977 v Wales
Captain of Ireland Schools and made his Leinster debut in the Magners League in September 2006. A son of former Ireland prop Des Fitzgerald, he has now played 35 times for Leinster, and for Ireland ‘A’ as well as winning full caps
Can play at full-back, on the wing or in the centre, student at UCD

COACH – EDDIE O’SULLIVAN

21.11.58
Appointed in November 2001, after being assistant under Warren Gatland, won 3 Triple Crowns in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and was assistant coach for the 2005 Lions
Former coach of Connacht, Blackrock College, the Ireland Under-21s and US Eagles
Played for Garryowen, and former PE teacher
In August 2007, his contract was extended to 2012