Rejuvenated centre Brian O'Driscoll has been chosen by new Ireland coach Declan Kidney to captain the side in their November Tests against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina.
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O'Driscoll, who has already led Ireland on 40 occasions, has been in fine form for Leinster this season and was among those named in an unusually large 41-man squad on Wednesday.
This will be cut to around 30 at the end of a week-long training camp in Limerick before former Munster boss Kidney announces his matchday 22s for the international with Canada at Thomond Park on November 8 and the clashes with the All Blacks and Argentina, who knocked Ireland out of last year's World Cup, at Dublin's Croke Park on November 15 and 22 respectively.
"I am delighted that Brian has agreed to captain the squad for the Guinness Series 2008," said Kidney.
"I have also opted to name a bigger squad than originally anticipated so that we can continue to familiarise a largely new-look backroom staff with a wider group of players."
He added: "Our games assume additional importance this year considering their significance as regards our seeding position going into the World Cup 2011 draw being made in December.
"We are currently ranked eighth - just ahead of Scotland - so the fact that it is paramount to at least maintain a top-eight ranking underlines the additional importance of our results against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina."
Ireland squad
Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/WAL), Ian Dowling (Munster), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Connacht), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Shane Horgan (Leinster), Robert Kearney (Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester/ENG), Barry Murphy (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps/ENG), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster)
Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Tony Buckley (Munster), Ryan Caldwell (Ulster), Bob Casey (London Irish/ENG), Tom Court (Ulster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Munster), John Hayes (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Bernard Jackman (Leinster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster), Mick O'Driscoll (Munster), Alan Quinlan (Munster), Michael Ross (Harlequins/ENG), Donncha Ryan (Munster). David Wallace (Munster), Roger Wilson (Northampton/ENG)
Fixtures Nov 08: Ireland v Canada, Thomond Park, Limerick Nov 15: Ireland v New Zealand, Croke Park, Dublin Nov 22: Ireland v Argentina, Croke Park, Dublin
AFP
