11 days and counting until Ireland open this years six nations against Italy. There is a sense of uncertainty in the air this year, as Ireland enter on the back of a disappointingly World Cup campaign. Changes are needed and according to Keith Wood “Ireland need fresh blood”

The squad is as follows:

18 Forwards:

Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets), Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Johnny O’Connor (Corinthians/Connacht), Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster), Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

15 Backs:

Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster), Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers), Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Eoin Reddan (London Wasps), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)