Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has included two uncapped players in the 33-man training squad for the forthcoming Six Nations championships.
It had been anticipated O'Sullivan would seek to freshen things up in the wake of a disastrous World Cup campaign but Leinster's Cian Healy and Jonathan Sexton are the only new faces brought in by O'Sullivan though provincial teammates Bernard Jackman, Leo Cullen and Jamie Heaslip return to the international fold.
Jerry Flannery is included in O'Sullivan's plans although he has been cited today for an alleged stamp on Clermont Auvergne's Julien Bonnaire. The hearing could result in a lengthy ban for the Munster hooker. Jackman and Rory Best are the other two hookers involved, with the latter having just returned to "pitch work" yesterday following an ankle injury.
Leinster backrowers Keith Gleeson and Shane Jennings have again been overlooked by O'Sullivan but Johnny O'Connor's return to domestic rugby with Connacht has earned the flanker a recall. The coach conceded the backrow selection process presented some familiar conundrums but remains convinced he has the "balance right".
Possibly a more high profile absentee is scrumhalf Isaac Boss, whose loss of confidence has even led to him losing his place with Ulster. His omission is further confirmation after the World Cup that Eoin Reddan has taken up the baton in the race to oust Peter Stringer long term.
"First and foremost I feel this squad reflects the form of the players in the Heineken Cup and Magners League and I am excited to introduce some young blood into the mix for the Six Nations," he said this afternoon.
"Some of the younger players have really put their hands up through their performances and have earned their spot in the squad.
"At the same time it again threw up some tight calls, especially in the backrow, which always seems to be the same every time we select a squad. However, I think we have the balance right going into the championship."
Luke Fitzgerald's impressive form of late has earned him an expected call-up alongside Leinster teammate Rob Kearney and Ulster wing Tommy Bowe, while Munster prop Tony Buckley earns a recall having won just two caps to date on the summer tour to Argentina last year.
Elsewhere, the door seems to have closed on Brian Carney's fledgling Ireland career after the Munster wing was considered surplus to requirements.
O'Sullivan's is without the services of secondrow Paul O'Connell through injury but Cullen's inclusion is some consolation for that. Flanker Stephen Ferris and prop Simon Best (both Ulster) were also out of contention.
Michael Cheika has welcomed a the inclusion of 12 of his players and urged Jennings and Gleeson not to be disheartened by their omission, after their 'brilliant' season on the European stage. He added that he will be pushing them both hard to prove O'Sullivan wrong.
"I'm very happy for the players that have been selected. I think that the big push for them is to go hard for selection into the 22," said the Austalian today. "They all want to play for their country and now that that first section has been laid for them, they've got to push hard to get inclusion in the 22 because that's where it's at.
"I'd be disappointed for them (Jennings and Gleeson). I think that our backrow has performed brilliantly this year and they have both been a big reason why.
"I'll be pushing them very hard to get better and to keep showing so that they can't be denied selection further down the track. They'll come back pretty strong because they're tough fellas."
Cheika believs Healy's inclusion is early but merited. The test now for the young prop is to make sure he's there to be considered rather than to make up the numbers.
"I'd be of the opinion that if Cian (Healy) is in the squad, that he's not just there to carry the water or the bags. But that he's in there to push for selection. Every player gets their opportunity, and he has been given his quite early, but he's got to go out there and push for selection."
Ireland Squad
Forwards (18)
Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Johnny O'Connor (Galwegians/Connacht)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Backs (15)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Not considered due to injury
Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
