Joe Schmidt names his Ireland squad for the opening fixtures of this year’s Six Nations and spaces are at a premium.
Only three senior stars – Jared Payne, Sean Cronin and Joey Carbery – are definitely out of the openers with Payne the best bet of a mid-championship return.
Ireland have won three of their last four Test outings and have a host of top players in prime Champions Cup form. Breaking into Joe Schmidt’s squad will be a mighty task.
While we have tipped Munster’s Niall and Rory Scannell to make the cut, Brian O’Driscoll only named the hooker – and the elder of the two brothers – when asked for his Irish Six Nations bolters. O’Driscoll told Rugby Tonight:
“Particularly with the injury to Sean Cronin and how Munster are playing and the front row are playing, Niall Scannell, who hasn’t been capped yet, you’d have to imagine that he’d be in the mix.
“Jack Conan had a huge performance for Leinster last week. That is a hugely competitive back row and he’s probably sixth or seventh in the pecking order but with a couple of injuries, he could easily find his way in.”
O’Driscoll also named a player with one Ireland cap – picked up against England at Twickenham in last year’s Six Nations
“Even though Ulster have flattered to deceive, I think Stuart McCloskey has put up his hand again,” he said. “He didn’t feature in the summer tour or November series but he has put in a number of big performances and has given Joe Schmidt something to think about.”
With the Ireland squad announced on Sunday, BOD tips Niall Scannell and Jack Conan for the nod. #RugbyTonight https://t.co/vZ22vUffwN
— Rugby Tonight (@RugbyTonight) January 18, 2017
