Eddie O’Sullivan has included Shane Horgan in his 30 man squad despite his knee injury. Horgan will be given until the Georgia game to prove his fitness. This leaves Tommy Bowe on standby in case Horgan does not recover in time. Alan Quinlan’s ability to cover both second row and back row has earned him the nod with three locks, Paul O’Connell, Malcolm O’Kelly and Donncha O’Callaghan included.
Ireland squad – forwards: N Best, R Best, S Best, S Easterby, S Ferris, J Flannery, J Hayes, M Horan, D Leamy, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, M O’Kelly, A Quinlan, F Sheahan, D Wallace, B Young.
Backs: I Boss, B Carney, G D’Arcy, G Dempsey, G Duffy, D Hickie, S Horgan, G Murphy, B O’Driscoll (cpt), R O’Gara, E Reddan, P Stringer, A Trimble, P Wallace.
Ireland are in pool D with hosts France, Argentina, Georgia and Namibia and play their opening game against Namibia on the 9th September in Bordeaux.