The China Mail - Easterby sticks by Six Nations-winning veterans in first Irish squad

Easterby, taking over the reins from Andy Farrell who is on sabbatical as head coach of the British & Irish Lions for their tour of Australia, selected a squad made up of the stalwarts who have been pivotal to successive championship title wins.

Leinster prop Jack Boyle is the only new face.

The side will be skippered by Caelan Doris, whose predecessor Peter O'Mahony had been expected to retire after leading them to the 2024 title but the 35-year-old has retained his place in the squad.

Record caps holder Cian Healy, 37, also remains.

Easterby, who has been a pivotal part of the Irish success story both under Joe Schmidt and then Farrell, said the squad had a good mix of veterans and players who had impressed on their debut in the November Tests.

Fly-half Sam Prendergast and his fellow former Ireland Under-20 star Gus McCarthy especially took the eye in wins over Fiji and Australia.

"One of the highlights from the recent Autumn Nations Series was the emergence of a number of new internationals in Thomas Clarkson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Gus McCarthy and Sam Prendergast," said 49-year-old Easterby.

"We are also delighted to welcome back a number of players who were unavailable for the recent Autumn Nations Series and their return will further boost competition levels across the panel."

Easterby, a top class flanker who was capped 65 times by Ireland, will have some selection dilemmas largely revolving around the fly-half spot.

Prendergast, 21, got the nod to start the win over Australia ahead of Jack Crowley, who had been the first choice since Johnny Sexton retired after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Crowley, though, set aside the disappointment and came off the bench to steer the Irish over the line against the Wallabies.

There will also be stiff competition at hooker as Dan Sheahan, first choice in last year's Six Nations, returns after missing the November Tests because of injury.

Easterby will run the rule over both of them and the rest of the squad at a training camp in Portugal prior to their tough opener at home to England, the only side to beat them in the Six Nations last year, on February 1.

They follow that just over a week later with an even tougher challenge away at a buzzing Scotland (February 9), followed by an away trip to ailing Wales (February 22) before hosting France on March 8 and rounding off their campaign away at Italy (March 15).

"The thing about the Six Nations is that you have to hit the ground running and there's no room for building or easing your way into competition," said England-born Easterby.

"Every match counts and facing England at home in the first round sharpens everyone's mind to what will be a big task ahead."

Squad

Forwards (21): Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris (capt), Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Cormac Izuchukwu, Rónan Kelleher, Gus McCarthy, Joe McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier

Backs (15): Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose

Coach: Simon Easterby (ENG)

A.Zhang--ThChM