Squad
Loosehead Prop: Jack Boyle, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter
Hooker: Ronan Kelleher. Rob Herring, Dan Sheehan, Gus McCarthy
Tighthead Prop: Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham,
Second Row: Iain Henderson, Joe McCarthy, Ryan Baird, James Ryan, Cormac Izuchukwu
Back Row: Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan, Cian Prenderghast, Tadhg Beirne
Scrum-half: Jamison Gibson-Park, Conor Murray, Caolin Blade
Fly-half: Jack Crowley, Sam Prenderghast, Ciaran Frawley
Centre: Bundee Aki, Gary Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Osborne
Back Three: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Jimmy O'Brien, Calvin Nash
Ireland have won the last two editions of this tournament and will be many people's favourites to win for a third successive success. This year presents more challenges, however. This is a Lions' tour year and Ireland's leader Andy Farrell will be coaching the Lions so is missing the competition to prepare for the summer. In his place is long time assistant Simon Easterby. I doubt that there will be any deviation from what Farrell would do but you never know. It will also be interesting to watch how Ireland's attack develops having tweaked it last year which possibly lead to a more stagnant attack in the autumn.
There are a couple of big questions around selection for the Six Nations. None are bigger than the decision between Crowley and Prenderghast. Crowley has been impressive when given the chance in the green but Prenderghast has been seen as the chosen one to replace Sexton and has shown that he is capable of handling those lofty expectations. It may come down ro which fly-half suits the opposition better. Prenderghast is more of a controlling fly-half who is tactically aware and good in possession whereas Crowley is a more stark departure fro, the Sexton mould. He presents a much bigger running threat to the opposition and likes ball-in-hand more than most other fly-halves. Do the Irish coaching staff prefer the difference of Crowley or is Prenderghast the more natural fit in the system?
Elsewhere, the team is quite settled. The main area of competition comes in the back five. McCarthy,Henderson, Ryan, Beirne and O'Mahony are all good enough to start but can't all fit into the team. It all comes down to balance for Easterby and perhaps presents an opportunity to build depth. Depth is a crucial aspect for this Irish team in the future. I would argue that it was their achilles heel in the World Cup. They didn't rotate players enough in meaningless games which left them fatigued in the end and lead to another quater-final defeat.
Player to watch
Jameson Gibson-park. He has had a slight dip in form at the international area and is arguably not the in-form scrum-half in this squad; Conor Murray has been immense for Munster recently. JGP is also favourite to start for the Lions in the summer but has the in-firm Tomos Williams and Alex Mitchell just behind him with both poised to have a big tournament. Will JGP remind us all why he is the favourite or will he be caught?
My Ireland team to play England
1.Andrew Porter 2.Dan Sheehan 3.Tadhg Furlong 4.James Ryan 5.Joe McCarthy
6.Tadhg Beirne 7.Josh van der FLier 8.Caelan Doris 9.Jameson Gibson-Park 10.Sam Prenderghast
11.James Lowe 12.Bundee Aki 13.Gary Ringrose 14.Mack Hansen 15.Hugo Keenan
16.Ronan Kelleher 17.Cian Healy 18.FInlay Bealham 19.Cormac Izuchukwu
20.Peter O'Mahony 21.Conor Murray 22.Jack Crowley 23.Ciaran Frawley
Predicted finish: 3rd
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