Ireland included five uncapped players on Thursday as they finalised their 25 man squad for their opening Six Nations match against England.

The uncapped players are Ronan O'Gara, Shane Horgan and Peter Stringer among the backs and forwards John Hayes and Frank Sheahan.

Coach Warren Gatland, under pressure after Ireland failed to reach the last eight in the World Cup, has been hit by injuries to a number of players in the run-up to the game at Twickenham on February 5.

Several players from the Irish World Cup squad miss out.

Wing Matt Mostyn, centre Jonathan Bell, props Reggie Corrigan and Angus McKeen are omitted, while winger James Topping, flanker David Corkery, scrum half Brian O'Meara and hooker Ross Nesdale are injured.

World Cup squad members Eric Elwood, Eric Miller and Andy Ward have all been demoted to the `A' squad. Another member of the World Cup squad, utility back Gordon D'Arcy, was named in the Ireland Under-21 panel earlier this week.

The squad, cut from 45 in an initial group, includes 10 players from European Cup quarter-finalists Munster.

Backs:

Conor O'Shea (London Irish), Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College), Justin Bishop (London Irish), Shane Horgan(Lansdowne), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Mike Mullins (Young Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock College), David Humphreys (Dungannon), Ronan O'Gara(Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer(Shannon), Tom Tierney (Garryowen).

Forwards:

Peter Clohessy (Young Munster), Justin Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), John Hayes(Shannon), Paul Wallace (Saracens), Keith Wood (Garryowen), Frank Sheahan(Cork Constitution), Malcolm O'Kelly (St Mary's College), Robert Casey(Blackrock College), Jeremy Davidson(Castres), Mick Galwey (Shannon), Kieron Dawson (London Irish), Trevor Brennan (St Mary's College), Anthony Foley (Shannon), Dion O'Cuinneagain(Ballymena).