Shine up that Six Nations trophy, nice and pretty, because we want it back
Joe Schmidt will announce his extended Six Nations training squad, on Thursday, and is expected to include players for the Wolfhounds [Ireland A side]. The Wolfhounds take on England Saxons, on Friday, January 30, at Musgrave Park in Cork.
With so many Test regulars returning from injury, short of game-time and a few positions highly-contested by in-form players, Schmidt could name one of the strongest ever ‘A’ teams in recent years. This is a potential XV that would certainly dismantle the Saxons and even given Schmidt’s team [the one that started against Australia in November] a run for their money.
Loose-head: Cian Healy
Hooker: Sean Cronin
Tight-head: Marty Moore
Lock: Dave Foley
Lock: Iain Henderson
Blindside: Dominic Ryan
Openside: Sean O’Brien (captain)
Number 8: Robin Copeland
Scrum-half: Kieran Marmion
Out-half: Ian Keatley
Left wing: Dave Kearney
Inside centre: Jared Payne
Outside centre: Darren Cave
Right wing: Craig Gilroy
Full-back: Felix Jones
Potential Wolfhounds bench
James Cronin, Richardt Strauss, Rodney Ah You, Mike McCarthy, Tommy O’Donnell, Eoin Reddan, Gareth Steenson, Keith Earls.
IRELAND XV (that beat Australia 26-23): Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Robbie Henshaw, Gordon D’Arcy, Simon Zebo; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Paul O’Connell; Peter O’Mahony, Rhys Ruddock, Jamie Heaslip.
