Duo missing from Irish squad

Ireland veterans Girvan Dempsey and Malcolm O'Kelly are the big name omissions from an extended 39-man squad for the autumn internationals.

The Leinster duo, who have 82 and 92 caps respectively, were included in this year's RBS 6 Nations squad but have since dropped out of contention.

Leicester full-back Geordan Murphy, out until Christmas with a shoulder injury, is another big-name absentee alongside Leinster's suspended openside Shane Jennings.

Murphy is one of two captains at Guinness Premiership clubs to miss out with Bob Casey unable to force into the reckoning at second row, one of Ireland's most competitive positions.

Neil Best is the solitary representative from the Premiership with the Northampton flanker earning a recall on the back of his strong form this season.

Ulster hooker Rory Best has been ruled out for the entire season with a neck injury but his closest rival Jerry Flannery, who is battling to recover from his calf injury in time to face Australia on November 15, is included.

Bernard Jackman of Leinster has been left out, so Connacht hooker Sean Cronin and John Fogarty of Leinster - both uncapped - are included as back-up. There are seven other new caps - Cian Healy, Chris Henry, Fergus McFadden, Sean O'Brien, Jonathan Sexton, Devin Toner and Brett Wilkinson.

Sexton of Leinster had edged Ulster's Ian Humphreys in the race to deputise for Ronan O'Gara, with Paddy Ulster also available at fly-half.

Head coach Declan Kidney expects the depth of his squad to be tested fully next month, with 'A' games against a Tonga XV and Argentina 'A' also scheduled.

"We had an opportunity to work with most of the players selected in this squad over our three camps during the summer," he said. "Those sessions were about giving chances to as many players as possible following last year."