ROUND SIX OF the Champions Cup is here and that means the Six Nations is just around the corner.
Ireland will call their internationals into camp in the days after this weekend’s European exertions, leaving the provinces to work their way to February with some of the more up-and-coming players at their disposal.
Or perhaps some of those prospects will be whisked away to Carton House?
There was no definitive squad list sent out by Team Ireland when Schmidt gathered a group in Kildare over the winter, but we know that the likes of Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander and Luke McGrath were involved in the 48-man Maynooth meeting.
At least four of the men mentioned above are the form players in their position and none of the quartet have a cap between them.
Despite strong cases from Ringrose and McCloskey however, midfield may not be an area where Schmidt wishes to unfold any surprise experiments and he should have Robbie Henshaw as well as the recently-returned Jared Payne fit to renew their partnership there.
We’re in the post Paul O’Connell era too. So Schmidt will use tomorrow’s email missive to name a new skipper.
Unfortunately the list will not be bolstered by names such as Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony or Tommy Bowe as they will miss the tournament through injury, while Mike Ross and Cian Healy are also doubtful to make the starting line on 7 February.
So, as we look to pick up spirits after another disappointing Rugby World Cup quarter-final, who or what would you like to see in the squad?
