Rugby Union: O'sullivan Recalls Big Guns But Ireland Leave Exile Casey in the Cold

Eddie O'Sullivan goes into the Six Nations as the coach under most pressure after last year's disappointing campaign was followed by heavy defeats to New Zealand and Australia last November.

Little has gone right for Ireland since beating England in Dublin 11 months ago, but O'Sullivan was yesterday able to recall Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Denis Hickie, who played notable parts in the 2003 World Cup campaign and who went on the Lions tour to New Zealand last summer.

"We were a little bit short on experience in November and their return from injury will be a significant boost," said O'Sullivan, who also recalled the veteran forwards and 2004 triple crown winners Reggie Corrigan and Anthony Foley. "Brian and Paul have been playing very well, and with Denis also back in action we have a wealth of know-how to call on."

O'Sullivan has included four uncapped players in the squad, including two who have impressed for Leinster this season, the wing Rob Kearney and the back-row Jamie Heaslip, while the Leicester flanker Shane Jennings will challenge Johnny O'Connor and David Wallace at open-side wing forward. The coach has continued to overlook two second-rows playing outside Ireland, London Irish's Bob Casey and Toulouse's Trevor Brennan.

Scotland recalled the Leeds fly-half Gordon Ross, who was left out of the squad last November, as their coach Frank Hadden, who will be in charge of a Six Nations campaign for the first time, looks to sort out one of his problem positions.

The back-row Jon Petrie was recalled after missing the November internationals through injury, while the Borders pair Ben MacDougall and Andy Miller were named in the squad for the first time.

Ireland: Backs: Bowe (Ulster), D'Arcy Dempsey G Easterby Hickie Horgan (all Leinster), Humphreys (Ulster), Kearney (Leinster), J Kelly (Munster), Murphy (Leicester), O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), O'Gara (Munster), Reddan (Wasps), Staunton (Wasps), Stringer (Munster), Trimble (Ulster). Forwards: N Best S Best R Best (all Ulster), Byrne (Saracens), Corrigan (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli), Foley (Munster), Flannery Hayes (both Munster), Heaslip (Leinster), M Horan (Munster), Jennings (Leicester), Leamy O'Callaghan O'Connell (all Munster), O'Connor (Wasps), M O'Driscoll (Munster), O'Kelly (Leinster), Wallace (Munster).

Scotland: Backs: Blair (Edinburgh), Cusiter (Border Reivers), Di Rollo (Edinburgh), Henderson (Glasgow), S Lamont (Northampton), R Lamont (Glasgow), MacDougall (Border Reivers), Morrison (Glasgow), Parks (Glasgow), Paterson (Edinburgh), Ross (Leeds), Southwell (Edinburgh), Walker (Border Reivers), Webster (Edinburgh). Forwards: Brown Douglas Ford (all Border Reivers), Hall (Edinburgh), Hamilton (Glasgow), Hogg (Edinburgh), Jacobsen Kellock (all Edinburgh), Kerr (Leeds), Lawson (Glasgow ), MacLeod (Border Reivers), Miller (Border Reivers), S Murray (Edinburgh ), E Murray (Glasgow), Petrie (Glasgow), Smith (Edinburgh), Taylor (Edinburgh), White (Sale, capt).