Six Nations 2002 - Ireland profiles

KEITH WOOD

MALCOLM O'KELLY
lock
Off the pitch, O'Kelly is so laid back, he's verging on the horizontal butonce he pulls on a Leinster or Ireland shirt the 6ft 7in line-outspecialist is transformed into a fiery opponent. A player who has a simpleambition - to be the best in the world in his position. Quick, agile and agreat handler of the ball.

PETER CLOHESSY
prop
They call him a dinosaur but Clohessy just keeps on coming back for more inthe jungle of the front row ... and no-one takes liberties with the Claw onthe pitch and off it in his bar aptly titled The Sin Bin. He's a throwbackto the old amateur days and if the money dried up in rugby tomorrow,the Munster man would still be playing the game. On a few occasions, he hasstretched the referee's and opponents' patience to breaking point. But whenthe going gets tough, Clohessy - who will become only the tenth Irishman to win 50 caps if he plays against Wales - is just the man to have in the trenches.

ANTHONY FOLEY
No 8
Foley has a good engine, good hands and good pace. What more do you wantfrom a No 8 apart from a few tries. He also has that valuable knack ofpopping up as the extra man - often on the wing!

DENIS HICKIE
wing
Hickie's form for Heineken Cup marvels Leinster and Ireland this season hasmade a mockery of the decision not to take him on the Lions tour. He's areal flyer and potent finisher and was outstanding in the Grand Slamshattering defeat of England. Added to his collection of impressive triesas Ireland led but finally succumbed to the All Blacks.

GEORDAN MURPHY
wing
Like Brian O'Driscoll, his roots in Gaelic football have given himexceptional all-round skills and like O'Driscoll he loves to do things offthe cuff. This 23-year-old full back turned winger has been wowing themat Leicester for three seasons now. Lightning pace, skill, vision andspontaneity. George Best without the drink. What more do you want?