Uncapped Jack Coonan and Nathan White get the nod from Joe Schmidt
Schmidt has opted for such a large group so as to cover the requirements of both the Ireland Wolfhounds-England Saxons game at Musgrave Park on Friday next, January 30, and the RBS Six Nations Championship which opens with the visit to Rome on February 7.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the squad is the inclusion after a long period of inactivity through injury of leading players like Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy, Fergus McFadden, Iain Henderson, Marty Moore, Rhys Ruddock, Keith Earls, Dave Kearney and Jonny Sexton. Some of these players, most notably Sexton and also O’Brien, Healy, Henderson and Ruddock, are unlikely to be considered for the Italian game before hopefully becoming available for the clash with France at the Aviva Stadium on February 14.
