Ian Keatley’s RBS 6 Nations debut at 27 has not come too late for the Munster fly-half to carve a lasting Test career, insists Joe Schmidt.

Shane Byrne and Malcolm O’Kelly want the Tullow man kept in reserve against Italy.

Conor Murray insists Johnny Sexton’s absence will not heap extra pressure on him to spearhead Ireland’s attack in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener in Italy.

Joe Schmidt finally had some good news to share as he named a trimmed-down Ireland squad for the first two rounds of the RBS 6 Nations, with first-choice scrum-half Conor Murray expected to be fit to face Italy in Rome on Saturday.

’A’ International

Ireland Wolfhounds 9 England Saxons 18

All the talk before tonight’s Ireland Wolfhounds clash with England Saxons has been about who might do enough to break into the full squad for the Six Nations, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Gone are the days when these A internationals were mere consolation prizes for those who missed out on Test caps. Tonight’s clash of Irish Wolfhounds and English Saxons at Musgrave Park represents a full-blown RBS 6 Nations audition, writes Simon Lewis.

Maro Itoje will sit his biggest rugby exam yet with England Saxons on Friday night, but only if he meets his university coursework deadline first.

Ireland’s concerns over who will occupy the scrum-half berth for the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome next week appear to be far less acute today with the news from camp both Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan are expected to be fit.

Jack McGrath has apologised to Rory Best for a stamp which earned him a three-week ban earlier this month.

Jack Coonan, the highly-promising Leinster back-row forward and Connacht prop Nathan White, are the only uncapped players in the extended 46-strong Ireland squad announced yesterday by head coach Joe Schmidt. 

The Ireland coaching staff has today named an extended squad of 46 players for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations matches against Italy and France, as well as the Ireland Wolfhounds fixture against the England Saxons.

Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have the chance to reignite their Test careers in England’s 34-man Six Nations training squad, with Sam Burgess also handed World Cup lift-off.

Leinster have opted against registering either Cian Healy or Sean O’Brien for Europe ahead of Saturday’s round six visit to Coventry, where they meet Wasps to decide who finishes top of Pool 2 in the Champions Cup.

It was a false dawn a year ago when Kieran Marmion was selected to tour Canada and the United States but the ever-present Connacht scrum-half hopes he is poised to finally make his Irish debut in the next few weeks in Argentina.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Richardt Strauss’ rapid recovery from heart surgery offers Ireland a “bonus” hooker for the RBS 6 Nations, according to head coach Joe Schmidt.

England Saxons 8 Ireland Wolfhounds 14

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY:

Ulster’s Tommy Bowe says Nevin Spence will be on his team-mates’ minds when they take to the RDS tomorrow evening to face Leinster.

Connacht centre Dave McSharry has been ruled out of the Irish summer tour and will miss the start of next season.

Promising centre Dave McSharry is in a race against time to be fit for Ireland’s summer tour in June.

Darren Sweetnam’s rise from inter-county hurler to professional rugby player reached another milestone yesterday with his call-up to the Ireland U20 squad, but coach Mike Ruddock has warned the Cork tyro has a lot of hard work ahead.

The French media is no wiser than the Irish about where Jonathan Sexton will be playing next season with Racing Metro president Jacky Lorenzetti denying a deal had been done.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney last night put a positive spin on Jonny Sexton’s departure for France this summer, saying the move away from Leinster would not affect his Test career.

Ireland Wolfhounds 10 England Saxons 14

James Coughlan will captain the Ireland Wolfhounds in Galway tonight telling his players they all have an opportunity to stake a claim for a part in the upcoming RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Munster number 8 James Coughlan has been chosen to skipper the Ireland Wolfhounds against England Saxons in tomorrow night’s clash at the Sportsground (7.35pm).

Declan Kidney believes an early start to Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations preparations means his players can hit the ground running in Cardiff in nine days for the opening game against Wales.

Ireland assistant coach Les Kiss has provided the Ireland Wolfhounds squad with added incentive ahead of Friday’s meeting with England Saxons by revealing that those who perform well will be in the mix for a starting place against Wales in the opening Six Nations game.

Ulster's Andrew Trimble and Tom Court will join Leinster players Luke Fitzgerald and Isaac Boss in a match-squad of 23 players for the Ireland Wolfhounds when they take on the England Saxons in Galway this Friday evening at 7.45pm.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney today unveils his initial squad for this year’s RBS 6 Nations Championship and is expected to confirm Anthony Foley as acting defence coach.

Ulster Director of Rugby David Humphries has said the death of Nevin Spence will leave a huge hole in the Ulster squad.

If the reaction of Canterbury supporters back in his native province is anything to go by, Munster’s appointment of Rob Penney as their new head coach is right on the money.

Ulster have named Ireland trio Rory Best, Andrew Trimble and Stephen Ferris in their squad to face Aironi in Friday’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash at Ravenhill (kick-off 7.05pm).

Tommy Bowe may be in a rich vein of try-scoring form right now on the Irish wing but if duty called he would be more than happy to move inside and get to grips with a midfield role.

Delon Armitage’s future as an international rugby player appeared to be hanging in the balance last night.

IRELAND head coach Declan Kidney has added nine new faces to his squad for the opening two RBS 6 Nations matches but the majority of the selection debates for this weekend’s opener with Wales will be contained within his initial 24-man group.

Munster hat-trick hero Simon Zebo has been given a chance to stake a senior international claim after being selected for the Ireland Wolfhounds in the A international against England Saxons in Exeter tomorrow (5pm).

Eric Elwood has made one change to his team for Connacht’s final Heineken Cup game of the season against Harlequins at the Sportsground tomorrow night (8pm).

Leinster rugby have announced today that flanker Rhys Ruddock and centre Eoin O’Malley have agreed new one-year and two-year deals respectively.

Connacht have continued their recruitment drive for next season by signing ex-Munster flanker Eoghan Grace.

THE Munster pack will be answerable to Anthony Foley from next season following confirmation that the former captain will succeed departing forwards coach Laurie Fisher at the end of this campaign.