Almost everybody who did the business during the November Internationals is going to be there, and even those players who've picked up knocks in the recent weeks, the likes of Simon Easterby and Isaac Boss, will also be named despite the fact that they're unlikely to be fit, or at least match fit, for Ireland's first game against Wales in Cardiff on 4 February.

Eoin Reddan, who was in the extended squad in November, is likely to assume Boss's role as backup to Stringer up until the Ulster man is fit, no bad thing considering that he's actually a better player than the adopted Irish man in the first place.

Alan Quinlan, despite his recent inactivity, may just sneak into the party as cover for the battered Easterby, and if we throw in the possibility of Trevor Hogan taking over as second-row cover from Ulster's Matt McCullough, that should be about it. At this stage, the Irish squad picks itself and the only real decision Eddie O'Sullivan will have to make before his side's opening game, barring injury of course, is whether Denis Hickie or Andrew Trimble lines out on the left wing. At the moment, our money's on the Leinster man.

DAMNED IF YOU DO AND DAMNED IF YOU DON'T There's a certain irony in what's gone on over in Australia over the past week. Firstly, we were greeted to the news that four players - Mark Gerrard, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Lote Tuqiri and Morgan Turinui - had been sent home from the Wallabies World Cup training camp for failing fitness tests. Then, a couple of days later, it was revealed that Australia's excellent full-back, Chris Latham, could miss the World Cup after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament while training with his Super 14 franchise, the Queensland Reds.

The Wallabies management are reported to be furious that Latham picked up the injury while training with the Reds, but his participation with his Super 14 side might give a hint as to why he passed the national fitness tests in camp. The other four, meanwhile, who obviously didn't do a tap on their summer holidays, have no major injuries to worry about but have been ejected from the squad for not meeting certain requirements.

So what's it to be? Players who have put some work in over the summer break but are more susceptible to injuries, or guys who've given their body a complete rest but can't pass a couple of tests?

GREAT MOMENTS IN IRISH RUGBY NUMBER 16 - The IRFU purchase Ravenhill The Ormeau Grounds on Belfast's Ormeau Road had been Ulster's venue of choice since they played their first interprovincial match against Leinster at the venue back in 1875, but in 1923 the IRFU flexed their new-found financial muscles by purchasing a new ground for the province in the Ravenhill district of Belfast.

The land itself was bought for the princely sum of £2,300 and straight away the Union paid £15,500 to enclose the ground on all four sides and erect a main stand.

The first international was played at the venue the following year, with visitors England beating the home side by 14-3. Since then, Ravenhill has hosted 15 Irish internationals, the last of which saw the home side beat Scotland 6-0 in February 1954.

THE LAW LIBRARY This week, Paddy O'Brien, the IRB's referees manager, has asked whistlers around the world to keep a special eye on scrumhalves putting the ball into the scrum. His call is long overdue.

Any seasoned rugby watcher will know that Law 20.6 (d) of the game, which states that a scrumhalf must put the ball into the scrum straight, is flouted on a regular basis. The general consensus among referees is that the law is not that important but maybe O'Brien's words this week will change their minds. "We have nine months to get it right before Rugby World Cup 2007 and blatant disregard to this directive from Panel Referees will be taken into account when the 12 referees are named in June for the World Cup." They've been warned.

HEINEKEN CUP QUIZ This week we have two extremely scarce tickets to give away to the Munster v Leicester game in Limerick next Saturday, courtesy of www. ercrugby. com, the excellent website of both the Heineken and European Challenge Cups.

Simply email your answers to the following question to ccronin@tribune. ie before noon on Tuesday.

Who is the top try-scorer in all competitions in the current Munster squad?

MOUTHING OFF. . .

I'm very happy. It's been a great time in my life to come here and play rugby and enjoy in the French culture and the Toulon people Tana Umaga forgets to mention the vast amounts of money he has earned as he thanks the people of Toulon How can Danny Grewcock, with his record, receive a one-week ban for stamping and Alan Quinlan, who has had no yellow cards in the Heineken Cup for six years, be suspended for six weeks? The players now have no faith at all in the game's disciplinary procedures, and I know that to be the case IRUPA chief executive Niall Woods gives his views on the bizarre suspension of Alan Quinlan (right)