The four biggest Ireland squad omissions as Andy Farrell gets ruthless

The latest cuts are the deepest.

While most Six Nations squads are in the high 30s, Ireland and France have not handed out call-ups for the sake of it. Both sides, due to meet in the championship opener, have selected 34-man squads for the opening rounds.

On Wednesday afternoon [January 17], the IRFU confirmed Farrell’s squad selection for the opening rounds of the 2024 Six Nations. Here were the main talking points:

• Peter O’Mahony revels in ‘proudest moments of my life’ after being named Ireland captain for the Grand Slam defence
• Andy Farrell has named just two frontline out-halves – Jack Crowley and Harry Byrne – although Ciarán Frawley can also cover the position
• The biggest selection surprise of all is the return of Ulster back-row Nick Timoney. He has been redeployed to No.8, this season, and provides some back row versatility
• It’s looking like a direct shoot-out between Calvin Nash & Jordan Larmour for the No.14 jersey
• Three ‘training panellists’ named for warm-weather trip over to Portugal – the uncapped trio of Oli Jager, Sam Prendergast and Tom Ahern

Digging deeper into that 34-man selection, some of the omissions hit hard. There was no comeback for Simon Zebo, despite his clutch of recent good Munster performances, and the same goes for Billy Burns and Jack Carty. The Ireland head coach is not for going back over old ground. There have been a few big cuts, elsewhere, though.

The biggest Six Nation selection calls

We have all been aware, for some time, that Johnny Sexton was heading into the rugby sun-set after the World Cup.

The succession planning has been going on for almost six years – back in April 2018, Joe Schmidt tried to talk Joey Carbery and Ross Byrne into heading down the N7 to Limerick for a rattle at the Munster No.10 role. Carbery took the plunge. At the end of this season, he will be heading to Bordeaux.

We have had Billy Burns, Jack Carty, Ross Byrne and Harry Byrne all have a crack at backing up Sexton, or filling his boots, with varying levels of success or ‘Okay, next’.

In the latest selection, we have Jack Crowley set for a coronation and the chance to wear the crown in Marseille. The player Andy Farrell did not give a minute to, in the World Cup quarter final, has been entrusted with toppling Les Bleus at Stade Velodrome. Ciarán Frawley may back him up, but Harry Byrne will be so desperate to pay back Farrell for the faith he has shown in him.

Without further ado, here are the four biggest omissions from Farrell’s Six Nations squad.

Gavin Coombes

He is only 26 and a Trojan of a lad for Munster, but does not seem to fit into Andy Farrell’s plans. Can play second row as well as No.8, and has done so this season, yet is surplus to requirements. Ireland do have Jack Conan (Lion) and Caelan Doris (future Lion) as No.8 options while Nick Timoney can cover openside and the back of the pack. Coombes has been in training camps, so there may be something Farrell has seen, or not seen, to help him make up his mind.

Rob Baloucoune

Looked a good shout to get back into the squad, especially after the injuries to Mack Hansen and Jimmy O’Brien, and with both Keith Earls and Andrew Conway now retired. Has looked sharp for Ulster – perhaps not getting on the score-sheet enough – but left out. Again, Farrell has had in camps and given caps to. Has not convinced the national coach that he should be a selection lock.

Cian Prendergast

This one was surprising to me, as he has played well for Connacht this season in. Can play blindside and No.8 but is up against some heavy hitters. His time will come but Peter O’Mahony, the new captain, will be starting at least three games and Prendergast is being told to keep working on his craft, back out West.

Shane Daly

Not as much of a jolt as the other three, but he must have felt he had done enough. Can slot in to all back three slots and had deputised deftly for the injured Mike Haley at fullback for much of this season. His only Ireland cap was picked up in the summer of 2021 and he will not be adding to it soon, barring more injuries.

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