JOE SCHMIDT WILL unveil his Ireland squad for the 2017 Six Nations tomorrow. The majority of the names in the group will be easy to predict. But a mix of injury and the need to continue building depth in a squad that was successful in November means there is still room to blood fresh talent (at least to the Carton House environment) while chasing a third title in four years.
Here are a few men we’d like to see promoted.
Sean O’Brien
It’s no secret any more that Ireland boasts two terrific and powerful forwards under the same name. Connacht’s O’Brien should be the man to benefit from his team-mate Ultan Dillane’s absence.
O’Brien, left, with centre Peter Robb. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
The Galwegian is ferocious in contact and shows a technical intelligence to consistently make an impact when coming into games as a replacement. It may yet be too early for him to start in an international second row, but his line-out abilities and power from blindside flanker make him well worth an inclusion in a matchday squad.
Niall Scannell
Opportunities at the top level of rugby so often come about because of injuries and the absence of the hamstrung Sean Cronin for Ireland in this tournament will open the door for another hooker to step in to work under Rory Best.
Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
The captain is an immovable starter in the first XV and his engine ensures he is rarely replaced before the hour mark in games. Schmidt will have obvious already-capped options to call upon in Richardt Strauss, Rob Herring and James Tracy. However, the form of that trio is lagging behind Munster’s hooker, who at 24 will continue competing for the jersey long beyond the World Cup.
Jack Conan
Okay, so we’re cheating a bit here (but what would a breakdown be without a little cheating, eh?) as Conan already has one cap to his name thanks to a World Cup warm-up.