Ireland squad has room for a few bolters
Who has put their hands up for Six Nations?
THE Rugby World Cup post mortem is a thing of the past for eager Irish rugby fans. We have had months to wallow in the misery of our latest what-could-have-been.
Thankfully, the 2024 Six Nations is the perfect tonic for the suffering who would love nothing more than to see Andy Farrell’s charges claim a second consecutive Grand Slam.
The Englishman could be forgiven for getting lost in all the hoopla around his, admittedly expected, appointment as head coach of the British and Irish Lions.
There is no better candidate for the tour of Australia, which takes place next year. There are, however, more pressing matters at hand.
He will name a 37-player panel for the Six Nations on Wednesday. As Ireland embark on a new World Cup cycle, Farrell has plenty to consider.
Is it time for Andy Farrell’s Ireland 2.0? Or is continuity the name of the game for a squad which has hit new heights in the last couple of years? Here is who we expect him to select for the 2024 Six Nations.
LOOSEHEAD PROP Our predictions: Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Jeremy Loughman
Leinster’s Andrew Porter is one of the world’s best at the minute. Expect him to play more minutes than any other prop in the championship.
The veteran Cian Healy has been clear in his intentions to add to his 100-plus caps, despite the heartache of pre-World Cup injury and he still looks up for the task.
Jeremy Loughman, key to Munster’s URC triumph, has been a regular wider squad pick under Farrell so he probably has enough stock in Dave Kilcoyne’s absence.
That said, he has struggled to find his best form this season despite looking back at it against Toulon
HOOKER Our predictions: Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Tom Stewart
Is Dan Sheehan the first name on the team sheet? It’s hard to place anyone ahead of him.
In Ronan Kelleher — despite some wayward lineout throwing — Ireland have one of the world’s best replacement hookers.
Expect an Ulster man to add to the depth chart in Tom Stewart (right)has a talent ceiling similar to Leinster’s dynamic duo and could get the go-ahead at the expense of the injured Rob Herring, who is facing a spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.
TIGHTHEAD PROP Our predictions: Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham, Tom O’Toole
Tadhg Furlong has not been at his best for a while now, fending off frequent injury niggles, but remains the premier tighthead in the country. When it comes to back-up, Connacht’s Bealham has been nothing short of excellent in playing his part. Nobody is crying out for inclusion behind that established duo. Tom O’Toole has been the go-to guy and looked electric at times off the bench 12 months ago. Farrell could reward his loyalty and he has been good this season, but the head coach could also be swayed by the presence of Oli Jager — the five-time Super Rugby winner who has been buoyed as a transformative addition to Munster’s pack.
SECOND ROWS
Our predictions: James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Iain
Henderson, Joe McCarthy, Tom Ahern
An apparent Munster captainin-waiting, Beirne has made himself undroppable under Farrell and his ability to shift to the blindside flank makes him all the more valuable.
One would assume that James Ryan will be the man to partner Beirne in Marseilles even if his clubmate is knocking on the door.
Big Joe McCarthy has been the outstanding lock in Dublin 4 this season and could be a pivotal player in Australia in 2027. There is a lot of rugby to be played between now and then of course.
There is similar excitement around Munster’s Tom Ahern who, like Beirne, can do damage in the back row. Iain Henderson has been a real leader under Farrell and his lineout expertise can be invaluable. These five secondrows pick themselves.
BACKROWS Our predictions: Peter O’Mahony, Ryan Baird, Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, John Hodnett, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan
Few eyebrows will be raised when O’Mahony, Van der Flier and Doris are selected. The trio gives Ireland a real balance to their back-row.
Who joins them? Jack Conan has been a strong servant. Fellow Leinster man Baird is too good not to pick.
What about opensides? Will Connors has resurfaced this season but we reckon John Hodnett — so good for Munster — will pip him to the post.
Is there room for Nick Timoney or Gavin Coombes? Both powerhouses are key members of their provincial packs but Farrell will likely opt for Connacht’s Cian Prendergast.
SCRUM-HALF Our predictions: Jamison Gibson-Park, Craig Casey, Conor Murray
There is no reason to believe that Ireland’s quality trio of No 9s will change. Ulster’s John Cooney has been outstanding again this season but history indicates his prospects of selection are miniscule.
Gibson-Park is crucial to Ireland’s attack. He will remain firstchoice. But could there be change in the pecking order elsewhere?
Craig Casey appears to have usurped Murray — who has been uncharacteristically poor at times this season — in red. Could we see the same at Test level?
The livewire Casey is more like Gibson-Park in style than his fellow Limerick native, who is unlikely to be around come the next World Cup.
OUT-HALF Our predictions: Jack Crowley, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley
Crowley is odds-on to start the opener, fitness permitting, in our eyes as he continues what seems to be the most like-for-like succession plan post-Sexton. The Bandon man has looked assured in his few caps to date.
Ross Byrne would have been a banker but he underwent a procedure on his arm injury recently. We still expect him to make the cut unless he cannot due to the setback. Ciarán Frawley is the outstanding third choice for the number 10 shirt.
Adept in the centre and at fullback, his versatility should earn him selection, particularly off the back of a strong season in blue and despite his injury scare against Stade Francais.
CENTRES Our predictions: Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey.
Ireland’s world class midfield pairing will be crucial to claiming further Six Nations silverware. Ringrose is the outstanding outside centre in the Northern Hemisphere and a leader in the backline.
Aki has found a new gear since the Grand Slam win, hitting incredible performance levels at the World Cup. He is a cert.
Henshaw, for all his injury woes, and McCloskey have hardly put a foot wrong in the green jersey and are tried and tested back-up options
We would expect Farrell to stick with both in reserve, but Munster’s Antoine Frisch would be a progressive selection.
BACK THREE
Our predictions: James Lowe, Jacob Stockdale, Calvin Nash, Jordan Larmour, Hugo Keenan, Shane Daly No Mack Hansen or Jimmy O’Brien means Ireland’s back three is set for something of a shake-up. James Lowe and Hugo Keenan are clearly first-choice, but opportunity — both for fringe players and experimentation from Farrell’s point of view — beckons.