Welsh reaction to Tadhg Beirne’s Ireland exclusion was unequivocal

Ahead of Ireland's squad announcement for Six Nations' opening two matches, a couple of Welsh rugby writers were in touch.

This was the gist:

Would Tadhg Beirne be included? Surely Tadhg Beirne has to be included? He's going to be included... he has to be included?

The reply to each was that he hopefully would but that it was still unlikely to happen. Summer 2018 and the tour to Australia seemed the second row's best bet. The reaction was profound - double cause for Welsh celebration. Not only would Beirne be able to line out for Scarlets in their next four Guinness PRO14 games but he would also not be playing for Ireland, against Wales, in the Six Nations. Wasps centre Brendan Macken joined The Hard Yards podcast this week and, along with host Andy McGeady and myself [from 18:00 below], gave his take on Ireland's Six Nations selections and the noticeable lack of Beirne in the 36-man list. Beirne has been in fantastic form for Scarlets over the past season and a half and his tour-de-force in last Friday's Champions Cup win over Bath had all of Europe singing his praises. Macken, who previously played at Leinster with Beirne, commented: "He's a really nice guy and it is absolutely brilliant to see him going so well.

"I just wish everybody could start getting his name right. Everyone calls him 'Tag Byrnes' over here [in the UK]! So I'm thinking, 'Who the hell is Tag Byrnes?' and then I get that they're talking about Tadhg. "He's going to be such an asset for Munster next season and I have no doubt that he'll be in a green jersey soon, maybe even this summer."

Macken believes Beirne has come on leaps and bounds under the coaching of Scarlets' Stephen Jones and Wayne Pivac and has gone so far as to tip the Welsh side as Champions Cup darkhorses. He also noted how the lock was given the role of No.8 in a league clash with Ospreys.

"It looks as though they have given him a licence to fetch the ball and get involved and he is absolutely revelling in it."

The man is in top, top form and it is such a shame that he will not be involved in the upcoming Six Nations. But there's really no point making an issue of it. Joe Schmidt doesn't often respond to media darlings, or fan favourites. We can wait five more months for Tag Byrnes...