The current pecking order for each position in the Irish team

46 players for just 15 jerseys

Patrick McCarry

The current pecking order for each position in the Irish team

All can change drastically in the coming matches but, one month out, this is how we’re shaping up.

Joe Schmidt is determined to deepen Ireland’s player pool as we head towards another World Cup, while testing the southern hemisphere’s best sides and attempting to knock England off their Six Nations perch.

The Kiwi got off to a flyer with Six Nations championships in 2014 and 2015 before the chastening experience of a World Cup exit at the hands of a daring Argentina. The experience of being exposed in the heat of battle after losing Paul O’Connell, Johnny Sexton and Peter O’Mahony to injury [and Sean O’Brien to suspension] was a rap on the knuckles.

Since that game, Schmidt has handed out Ireland debuts to 29 PLAYERS. Given that only six of Ireland’s 31-man World Cup squad have only retired since then, there is Test match experience, and then some, for every position.

Ian Madigan and Donnacha Ryan are playing with Bristol and Racing 92 now but Schmidt is unlikely to call on them unless his wider struck is struck by an injury crisis. Tadhg Beirne may also have to bide his time until he moves to Munster at the end of this season.

Heading into the Guinness Series in November, here is the current pecking order for each of Ireland’s positions [with five men to choose from in the second row]. A couple of versatile players are included in more than one position.

Loosehead