Ireland's Easterby passed fit to play All Blacks

Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan. Picture / Herald on Sunday

DUBLIN - Ireland rugby coach Eddie O'Sullivan got a timely boost today when Lions loose forward Simon Easterby was passed fit to captain the side for the first time against the All Blacks this weekend.

Despite breaking his nose three weeks ago and having to train with a face protector last week, Easterby was given the medical all-clear.

He combines with a largely untried loose forward trio of Wasps No 7 Johnny O'Connor, with seven test appearances, and Munster utility Denis Leamy, playing just his fourth test.

"We waited until the last minute today.

"Yesterday he had a scan to show everything was okay, the specialist gave him the all clear and he came through a full session today. He's good to go," O'Sullivan said of Easterby who will play his 43rd test.

"He's a different type of leader, a very quiet guy who's held in huge esteem among the squad and he leads by example."

Easterby, who plays for Welsh club Llanelli, was a late callup to the Lions and impressed in the No 6 jersey in a beaten lineup in the second test in Wellington in July.

O'Sullivan described All Blacks No 7 and captain Richie McCaw as the premier breakdown exponent in world rugby and said he'd picked a loose trio to counter that.

"It's going to be an interesting tussle on Saturday -- you've got to meet fire with fire.

"We're putting out the best back row to do that and it's going to be an interesting dynamic as to what happens in the game."

Nine of Sullivan's starting 15 toured New Zealand with the Lions this year, while three other Lions ruled out with injury -- regular captain Brian O'Driscoll, lock Paul O'Connell and wing Denis Hickie.

Lions midfielder Shane Horgan was passed fit after being in doubt with a shoulder injury.

Another feature of the side is the naming of Ulster wing Tommy Bowe, 21, for his fourth test to oppose Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Five of O'Sullivan's forward pack toured with the Lions, including 73-test veteran lock Malcolm O'Kelly, and he expected them to provide the All Blacks with tougher competition than Wales did last weekend in their 3-41 loss.

"I didn't learn anything particularly new other than you've got to secure your set piece," O'Sullivan said.

"New Zealand pretty much dismantled the Welsh lineout and put fierce pressure on at scrum time.

"We're going to have to perform better than the Welsh up front or we'll have the same problems they had."

* Ireland team:

Geordan Murphy, Tommy Bowe, Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan, Anthony Horgan, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Denis Leamy, Johnny O'Connor, Simon Easterby (captain), Malcolm O'Kelly, Donncha O'Callaghan, John Hayes, Shane Byrne, Marcus Horan. Reserves: Rory Best, Simon Best, Matt McCullough, Neil Best, Kieran Campbell, David Humphreys, Girvan Dempsey.

- NZPA