Ireland end Casey exile

Bob Casey is set to return the Ireland side for the first time in eight years for the clash against the Barbarians on Tuesday.

London Irish lock back eight years after last appearance

London Irish captain Bob Casey is set to return the Ireland side for the first time in eight years for the clash against the Barbarians on Tuesday. The giant lock, the inspiration behind the Exiles' charge towards the Heineken Cup semi-finals, last played for his country in 2000 - however he has been included in the side to take the select XV at Kingsholm. Although Casey will not add to his five caps in the match - with it not clashed as a Test - it is a sign that the end of Eddie O'Sullivan's reign has ended his exile in the international wilderness. Interim Ireland coach Michael Bradley, who looks after the side until Declan Kidney takes over in the summer, has named a strong side for the friendly - with Brian O'Driscoll retaining the captaincy. There is a first call up for prop Mike Ross, with the Harlequins ace hoping to force his way into the reckoning for the Test matches Down Under.

Exciting

With Ronan O'Gara unavailable because of his Heineken Cup commitments at Munster, Ulsterman Paddy Wallace gets a rare start at fly-half. Only Rory Best, Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Tommy Bowe and Jamie Heaslip survive from Ireland's last match - the 33-10 RBS Six Nations mauling by England. Bradley said: "Barbarian games are always exciting, high-tempo matches. "From that perspective it will be good preparation for us as we head into the tour where the teams have been playing a fast and loose game under the new experimental law variations. "The match will be important for the players to get up to that pace of play before we arrive in New Zealand and also for the Churchill Cup players in the match squad ahead of their tour." Ireland: 15 R Kearney (Leinster), 14 S Horgan (Leinster), 13 B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), 12 L Fitzgerald (Leinster), 11 T Bowe (Ospreys), 10 P Wallace (Ulster), 9 I Boss (Ulster), 1 B Young (Ulster), 2 R Best (Ulster), 3 M Ross (Harlequins), 4 B Casey (London Irish), 5 M O'Kelly (Leinster), 6 S Ferris (Ulster), 7 S Jennings (Leinster), 8 J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: 16 B Jackman (Leinster), 17 T Court, (Ulster), 18 R Caldwell, (Ulster), 19 N Best (Ulster), 20 F Murphy (Leicester), 21 J Sexton (Leinster), 22 G Dempsey (Leinster).