Each year a new star is born in the Six Nations.
Garry Ringrose emerged as last year’s breakout talent. In 2016, Maro Itoje announced himself to the rugby world with a stellar campaign.
A lot of this year’s pre-tournament hype has centred around Leinster star Jordan Larmour, who has made headlines over the last month with a series of scintillating tries during the recent interprovincial derbies.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has been historically guarded regarding his thoughts on selection, and he was not going to give any indication of which way he was leaning at Wednesday’s Six Nations launch, where he tipped Stade Francais’ 22-year-old lock Sekou Macalou to be this year’s breakout star.
“I was really impressed with Macalou in the November series,” said Schmidt.
“I thought individually he’s the sort of athlete that can change a game. I think he could be outstanding in the set-piece. I think his line-out defence is very difficult to contend with.
“His ability to get off the line and win collisions was impressive and obviously he’s an athlete with the ball so he’s a guy [I’m looking at] because I’m probably more France focused at the moment.
“He’s a guy that is at the front of my mind as well as those two young 10’s [Anthony Belleau and Matthieu Jalibert], I’m not sure which one will play against us, but I think they’re both exciting.”
“I think they may take a little longer to emerge but I think Macalou is already starting to find his feet at international level.”
Ireland enter the tournament with 13 players injured with Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Garry Ringrose, Jared Payne, Rhys Ruddock, James Tracy, Tommy O’Donnell, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Craig Gilroy, Tommy Bowe, Tyler Bleyendaal and Niall Scannell all unavailable through injury.
Ireland are currently in Oliva Nova in southern Spain for a mini-camp before they will head to Paris for their Six Nations opener against France next weekend.
