Only two uncapped players selected for the squad, both from Leinster. Jonathon Sexton is an out-half, fairly solid player, probably more in the ROG mode than a Dan Carter but he can actually tackle. Cian Healy is a loosehead prop. Not a lot of top notch experience yet but a really exciting prospect. Very pacey for a prop and can sidestep better than some backs I've seen play for Ireland in the past. He's been doing ok in the scrums but is only 20. Hoping the tutelage of Ollie le Roux will turn him into the ultimate prop. He was in the Irish U-20 that won the grand slam last season.

The other nine players in the squad who didn't feature in the World Cup squad:

Tony Buckley - man mountain tight head prop from Munster. John Hayes with hair.
Bernard Jackman - the form hooker in the country, he's always been a dynamic ball player, finally seems to have sorted out his throwing this season (fingers crossed).
Leo Cullen - in super form for Leinster at the moment, provides leadership too. Good chance he'll start in place of O'Connell.
Mick O'Driscoll - good in the lineout, not much cop around the rest of the pitch.
Johnny O'Connor - move back to Connacht has helped him get more gametime, he was getting squeezed out a bit at Wasps. Still concedes too many penalties for my liking.
Jamie Heaslip - absolute travesty that he didn't go to World Cup, has responded in the right way. If there's any justice he'll be in the starting XV.
Tommy Bowe - Ulster winger, one of the few players from that province showing any form.
Luke Fitzgerald - Leinster winger/full-back, perhaps not quite got the blistering pace but great feet and an ability to find space.
Rob Kearney - Leinster winger/full back - another excellent prospect, still prone to the odd brain fart, probably quicker than Fitzgerald.

Full squad:
Forwards (18) - Horan, Hayes, Buckley, Healy, Flannery, Best R, Jackman, Cullen, O'Callaghan, O'Driscoll M, O'Kelly, Easterby, Best N, Heaslip, O'Connor, Wallace D, Quinlan, Leamy
Backs (15) - Reddan, Stringer, Sexton, O'Gara, Wallace P, Trimble, D'Arcy, O'Driscoll B, Kearney, Fitzgerald, Bowe, Murphy, Dempsey, Horgan, Duffy.