Let’s start off with who Ireland will be without for the 2016 Six Nations.
Iain Henderson and Tommy Bowe are casualties while Paul O’Connell has retired from the Test arena. Peter O’Mahony is unlikely to make the start of the tournament and will be doing well to have any meaningful involvement.
Cian Healy, Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw are targeting late January returns while Donnacha Ryan is hopeful of a mid January comeback.
Enough with the bleak present, let’s look to the boundless future.
Given the current state of injuries, form of certain players and immediate needs of the team, this is the starting XV we feel Joe Schmidt should go with for the Six Nations opener against Wales, on February 7.
Front Row
Joe Schmidt has a decision to make here regarding tighthead. Mike Ross stated, after the World Cup, that he was not going anywhere. Ireland would have been lost without him in recent years but it may be time to move the loyal workhorse on. Tadhg Furlong and Marty Moore [below] are the men battling for his jersey.
Rory Best continues to edge out the Leinster duo of Richardt Strauss and Sean Cronin and is a good shout for the captaincy. At loosehead, Jack McGrath should get the nod ahead of Cian Healy, who underwent minor knee surgery this year.
Second Row
Paul O’Connell AND Iain Henderson are out of the mix but Devin Toner remains as the nailed-on starter.
Schmidt may go with Mike McCarthy as the safe option but Donnacha Ryan – just coming back from a knee knock – had the jump on him at the World Cup.
Outside bets are Dave O’Callaghan [Munster], Ultan Dillane [Connacht], Alan O’Connor [Ulster] and Andrew Browne [Connacht]. The latter of that quartet did not make the 50-man extended training squad so are hefty outside bets.
Back Row
One of the most intriguing areas. Schmidt has plenty of options here and selection here will tell us a lot about the direction he hopes to take his team.
With Peter O’Mahony set to miss most, if not all, of the competition, Schmidt can call on Jordi Murphy, Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier or CJ Stander [below] to play blindside.
Alternatively, he could shift Sean O’Brien to No 6 and reinstall trusty lieutenant, and breakdown nuisance, Chris Henry at openside. With so many injuries and uncertainties, Jamie Heaslip should retain his No 8 jersey. Another strong captaincy shout.
Half Backs
Despite the less than spectacular form of Johnny Sexton, this is a simple enough decision. Conor Murray will partner Sexton with Paddy Jackson hoping to skip the queue ahead of the versatile Ian Madigan as deputy place-kicker.
Midfield
We are already become reliant on Robbie Henshaw, despite the fact that he has only been a regular for 18 months. Payne is coming back to the picture so midfield selection may depend on his fitness and if Henshaw’s hand is fully healed.
If so, he is likely to be paired with Luke Fitzgerald. The other option for this partnership seems to be Keith Earls. Neither the Leinster or Munster man have ever fully convinced us of their outside centre capabilities.
If Henshaw is not fit for February 7, Schmidt, as we have previously outlined, should go with the in-form Ulster duo of Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall.
Back Three
Andrew Trimble surely comes back into the picture after he was harshly overlooked for the World Cup.
Again, Schmidt is spoilt for choice here and it will be interesting to see how he goes. Dave Kearney was solid but unspectacular during the World Cup while Simon Zebo did not get a look-in for the big games.
Fergus McFadden is never far away while Craig Gilroy and Keith Earls will be in the conversation. Rob Kearney will be one of the first name’s on Schmidt’s team-sheet. No other Irish player currently holds a flame here but it would be good to see a fit Payne considered.
Our Ireland XV to play Wales
Replacements: S Cronin, Healy, Furlong, McCarthy, Stander, Marmion, Madigan, Earls.
