Niall Scannell
The 6 Nations was launched this week, and just before that the Ireland squad came out. I cast a beady eye over who's there, who's lucky to be there, and who's missing...
First of all, even though it's a 40 man squad that will be trimmed, it's great to see that form was the guide when the squad was picked. Most deserving of the new faces are the Scannell's, who will have a lot to offer Ireland, and who will benefit from the Schmidt touch. At hooker, Niall Scannell must be favourite to be on the bench, and get his first cap soon.
We are light in a few positions at the moment - no international experience behind Rory Best at hooker, and only two fly halves, one of whom has seen as much of the physio table as he has of the pitch recently. Madigan must surely be on standby, Carbery is at least training, and after that, what, Carty, Keatley, Ross Byrne?
We are slightly light at lock too, we could do with more young up coming locks.
Unlucky to miss out would be Adam Byrne, Darren Sweetnam (he's injured though) and Dennis Buckley.
Overall though, you'd think we have more than enough available to make a proper challenge for the title this year!
Ireland squad for the Six Nations
Forwards: Finlay Bealham, Rory Best (c), Jack Conan, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Billy Holland, Dave Kilcoyne, Dan Leavy, Jack McGrath, Sean O’Brien, Tommy O’Donnell, Peter O’Mahony, Donnacha Ryan, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, CJ Stander, Devin Toner, James Tracy, Josh van der Flier
Backs: Tommy Bowe, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, Rob Kearney, Kieran Marmion, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Luke McGrath, Conor Murray, Tiernan O’Halloran, Garry Ringrose, Rory Scannell, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo
