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13th January 2025
03:25pm GMT
Ireland's Six Nations squad is due to be named on Wednesday, as they aim to become the first side to win three Six Nations titles in a row, and the first to win the tournament outright three times in a row since its inception in 1910.
Simon Easterby takes charge of the squad in the absence of Andy Farrell, who is on a sabbatical from Ireland duty while he is head coach of the Lions.
With their closest rivals France at home, it may be many a year before Ireland get a better opportunity at making history, although a tricky opener at home to England and an away trip to Scotland await as well.
Ireland will also have an 'A' fixture against England on February 23 at Ashton Gate, and as such we will likely see an additional 10-12 players on top of a 37-man squad.
Andrew Porter, Cian Healy - who will probably be playing his final games in green - and Tadhg Furlong pick themselves.
With Munster's Jeremy Loughman injured, uncapped Leinster loosehead Jack Boyle is next in line.
At tighthead there will be a tough call to be made, with Finlay Bealham, Oli Jager, and Tom Clarkson vying for two spots (Tom O'Toole is suspended for the first two games).
Jager looked near his best against Saracens on the weekend and will be aiming to replace Bealham as Ireland's second choice. The Connacht man also looked good in his side's Challenge Cup hammering of Lyon, while Clarkson did not feature in Europe.
The Leinster trio of Dan Sheehan, Rónan Kelleher, and Gus McCarthy have established themselves as the front liners in green.
However, with Sheehan just back to pitch sessions after an ACL injury, Ulster's Rob Herring will likely be in the squad, with the former returning returning for the second or third game.
Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, and James Ryan are locks - pun intended.
With more than 80 caps to his name and two Lions tours, the ever-present Ulster captain, Iain Henderson, has been on the wane over the last year.
Given the players coming through, he makes way in our squad for Tom Ahern.
The return of Jack Conan and Ryan Baird will likely see Cormac Izuchukwu and one of Cian Prendergast or Nick Timoney drop out of Easterby's squad, while Caelan Doris, Peter O'Mahony, and Josh van der Flier remain certainties.
If there is to be a newcomer, it will likely be Munster's Alex Kendellen, who was part of the November squad as a training panellist.
However, we like his teammate and fellow openside John Hodnett, whose form of late - and indeed over the past two seasons - has been superb.
Jamison Gibson-Park and Conor Murray are shoo-ins.
In the absence of Craig Casey, Connacht's Caolin Blade and Ben Murphy, and Ulster's Nathan Doak, will be vying for that third spot.
Blade is the only one of the three who has international experience, while Doak has been involved in the Ireland camp.
However, Murphy has overtaken Blade as Connacht's No 1 and has been the form nine in the country this season, chipping in with seven tries in 10 games.
The one area that we can predict with 100% accuracy.
Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast, and Ciarán Frawley.
The more pertinent question is who starts against England?
The old reliables of Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, and Robbie Henshaw, make sure that Ireland remain one of the most well-stocked nations in the game at midfield.
It is unclear exactly when Ulster's Stuart McCloskey will return. Hence we have opted for Tom Farrell, who, like Ben Murphy, has the best in his position this season.
James Lowe is expected to return in the coming weeks, and he should be joined in the squad by Mack Hansen, Calvin Nash, Hugo Keenan, and Jamie Osborne.
Jacob Stockdale may be in the running but there is no clear return date for the Ulsterman.
Prop:
Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Jack Boyle*, Tadhg Furlong, Oli Jager, Finlay Bealham
Hooker:
Rónan Kelleher, Gus McCarthy, Dan Sheehan/Rob Herring
Second row:
Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tom Ahern*
Back row:
Ryan Baird, Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, John Hodnett*, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan
Scrum-half:
Jamison Gibson-Park, Conor Murray, Ben Murphy*
Out-half:
Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast, Ciarán Frawley
Centre:
Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Tom Farrell*
Back three:
James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Calvin Nash, Hugo Keenan, Jamie Osborne
Training panellists:
Scott Wilson*, Jude Postletwaite*, Matthew Devine*
Ireland 'A' panel:
Tom Clarkson
Tom O'Toole
Iain Henderson
Cormac Izuchukwu
Gavin Coombes
Nick Timoney
Alex Kendellen*
Nathan Doak*
Jack Murphy*
Cathal Forde*
Zac Ward*
Shane Daly
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