Last season’s winners Ireland go into this year’s tournament as favourites with some justification due to their 100% record in the Autumn Internationals as well their form in last season’s competition.
Joe Schmidt’s side see this year’s Six Nations as a building block towards the World Cup but the Six Nations is a very important competition in its own right and Ireland will be doing everything they can to retain the trophy.
Ireland were very professional in their most recent games in November and home wins against South Africa and Australia were vital confidence boosters ahead of the Six Nations especially in post Brian O’Driscoll times.
The team’s last defeat was against England in Twickenham and have won their last seven games. Joe Schmidt’s attention to detail has reached legendary status at this stage and the Irish coach will know that there is lots of things to work on.
Against Australia the team was opened up easily at times and if Ireland are to pick up this season’s title the defence will have to improve. Gordon Darcy had a particularly tough time of it against Australia and there are doubts as to whether he still has what it takes at International level.
Schmidt will be a little concerned with the form of the Irish provinces in the Champions Cup. Munster’s exit from Europe has been well documented but Peter O’Mahony has been their best player and it is key for Ireland that his form continues.
Leinster improved to qualify for the Champions Cup quarter finals with Devin Toner, Sean Cronin and Ian Madigan to the fore. Ulster have had a disastrous season up to now but Tommy Bowe and Rory Best will be key to Ireland’s Six Nations chances. Connacht have done well in the Challenge Cup and are represented by Nathan White, Kieran Marmion and Robbie Henshaw in the squad.
Ireland also have a series of injury problems going into the Six Nations but Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien are back into the set up and their inclusion is a major boost. Iain Henderson is also back but Robin Copeland, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Donnacha Ryan are still injured but may come into contention later in the tournament.
O’Brien made a return to action in the Irish Wolfhounds loss to the England Saxons. The Tullow Tank played 50 minutes in the game and will be in contention to start against Italy. Henderson played the full game along with Keith Earls and both will contend for a place in the 23 man match day squad.
Jonny Sexton is unlikely to play against Italy so with Paddy Jackson on the long term injured list, it is a straight shootout between Ian Madigan and Ian Keatley for the starting out half berth in Rome. Despite playing a lot of the season at out half for Leinster, Madigan is favourite to start the game in Rome ahead of Keatley.
The rest of the team effectively picks itself thanks to the recent form. O’Brien may return to the side after missing the Autumn Internationals. The man who took his place in November, Rhys Ruddock broke his arm in December and has not played since.
The other contentious selection issue for Joe Schmidt is at tight head prop. Mike Ross has started the majority of games for Ireland since John Hayes retired but has been left out of the Leinster team in the last two Champions Cup games with Marty Moore getting the nod. It is a 50/50 call to who starts in Rome.
Ireland will be confident of retaining their Six Nations title. At their best they are ahead of the rest of the teams but all it takes is one poor performance and the title could be out of reach. England and Wales are their main rivals for the title but France are as unpredictable as ever.
If Ireland are to win, Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray and Jonny Sexton will be vital to their success. Murray has improved year on year and is now one of the premier scrum halves in the world. Sexton on his day is arguably the best out half in world rugby. O’Connell is on the final stretch of a glittering career and in November he arguably played his best games for Ireland. All three will be key in the Six Nations.
Irish Squad For Six Nations:
Forwards: (20)
Rory Best (Ulster)
James Cronin (Munster)
Sean Cronin (Leinster)
Robbie Diack (Ulster)
Cian Healy (Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ulster)
Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
Jack McGrath (Leinster)
Martin Moore (Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Leinster)
Sean O’Brien (Leinster)
Paul O’Connell (Munster) Captain
Tommy O’Donnell (Munster)
Peter O’Mahony (Munster)
Dominic Ryan (Leinster)
Richardt Strauss (Leinster)
Devin Toner (Leinster)
Nathan White (Connacht)
Backs: (18)
Isaac Boss (Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Ulster)
Darren Cave (Ulster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)
Felix Jones (Munster)
David Kearney (Leinster)
Rob Kearney (Leinster)
Ian Keatley (Munster)
Ian Madigan (Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Connacht)
Conor Murray (Munster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
Simon Zebo (Munster)
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