The China Mail - Easterby pinpoints challenge if Irish are to make Six Nations history

The 49-year-old was surprisingly relaxed at the launch of this year's tournament given he is less than a fortnight away from his first Six Nations match as head coach, hosting England, the only side to beat them in last year's championship.

The England-born former Ireland flanker has stepped up to replace Andy Farrell, who has taken a sabbatical as head coach of the British & Irish Lions for their tour of Australia later this year.

"There is no pressure, is there?" said Easterby, chuckling.

"The challenge is to stay ahead of the pack and prepare as well as we can and try and play as well as we can when it comes to England."

Easterby, who has been an integral part of the Ireland coaching set-up under Joe Schmidt and then Farrell which accrued five Six Nations titles including two Grand Slams, has selected a new-look squad that includes 11 players who were not part of last year's title-winning outfit.

The likes of 21-year-old fly-half Sam Prendergast and his fellow former Under-20 star hooker Gus McCarthy impressed in the November Tests.

Prendergast is vying for the starting spot with Jack Crowley, who was the playmaker for Ireland's Six Nations title win last year following the retirement of icon Johnny Sexton.

McCarthy faces a stiffer task as he is up against Leinster teammates Dan Sheahan and Ronan Kelleher as well as the Ulster veteran Rob Herring.

"We have had consistency of selection this time around," said Easterby.

"We have got good youngsters coming in, we brought them in during the autumn, and there is a lot of experience in the group as well."

- 'Tonne of faith' -

Easterby, capped 65 times by Ireland and twice by the Lions, said it was crucial to get a good start if a team is to go on and win the title.

"It is tough because every team in this competition will believe they can win it, and rightly so," he said.

"I guess part of winning the Six Nations is about momentum and what has gone before doesn't account for huge amounts."

Farrell's absence might have Ireland fans concerned about their prospects but captain Caelan Doris has no such fears.

"Si (Easterby) has been unbelievable for us for the last number of years. He took the lineout initially and then the defensive role,"Doris said.

"He has a tonne of respect among the players in how he leads and the one-on-one time he puts in with players.

"So a lot you look for in a head coach, it's been there, we’ve seen it in the last few years."

Doris, who enters the tournament as a strong contender to be Lions skipper, said in the past Ireland had overcome pivotal figures retiring or being unavailable.

"Faz (Farrell) has obviously been a massive figure for us, but Johnny (Sexton) has been a massive figure for us in the past who left," said the 26-year-old No 8.

"Instead of one person trying to fill the void it's been a shared responsibility, so I'm sure the leadership group will take a little bit of that on too.

"But yeah, there's a tonne of faith in Si definitely."

S.Wilson--ThChM