Devin Toner will also tour, but the prospect of this new-look second row is tantalising.
With only Munster in action from the four provinces this weekend, and with Connacht’s season already over, it may have been missed that Ireland are set to be without Iain Henderson this summer.
The second row injured his knee in Ulster’s 24-24 draw with Munster, last week. While an anterior cruciate ligament injury has been ruled out, The Newslettter has reported that Henderson will not play again this season.
Joe Schmidt has used Henderson on three occasions at blindside, the last time being the Second Test against South Africa in 2016, but primarily sees him as a lock. The 26-year-old started three of Ireland’s five Grand Slam games and came off the bench in that role during the home win over Scotland.
Henderson’s loss would appear to gain Leinster’s Devin Toner, who has had a fine season for the province, but it should open the door to Munster-bound Tadhg Beirne. Currently enjoying another superb season with Scarlets, Beirne has also had some success at blindside:
That’s the bonus-point try @scarlets_rugby needed!
? Tadhg Beirne powers over against @dragonsrugby to surely book a home Pro14 quarter-final
? LIVE: https://t.co/QkvjCnois6 pic.twitter.com/gKy4lm4j7c
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) April 28, 2018
Former Leinster and Ireland flanker Kevin McLaughlin told The Hard Yards that he sees Beirne as a very live option in the Munster No.6 jersey next season but Schmidt is likely to give him his Ireland debut as a second row.
That opens up the menacing possibility of Beirne being teamed up with James Ryan, the young player who has an unbeaten professional rugby record – Played 20, Won 20, Lost 0 – at present.
Ryan was a force of nature for Ireland in the Six Nations and has looked superb for Leinster on the side-swatting journey to the Champions Cup final. Both Ryan and Beirne will bring immense physicality to the party, are men who regularly get over the gainline, they have lovely handling and are both decent lineout options.
If we assume Ryan, Beirne and Toner are all definitely heading Down Under, there may yet be two spots left for locks. Quinn Roux and Ultan Dillane will be in contention but Schmidt could the tour as a chance to bring another young prospect, such as Ross Molony, for a closer look.
