Joe Schmidt’s curve ball as Munster trio get the call

The Six Nations is not supposed to be the time for experimentation but that has not prevented Ireland boss Joe Schmidt from continuing to his mission to develop strength in depth ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

Head coach Schmidt yesterday named a 40-man squad, including uncapped Munster trio Niall Scannell, Andrew Conway and Rory Scannell, to see the national team through the opening two fixtures of the 2017 RBS 6 Nations Championship, with Ireland getting their bid to regain the title won in 2014 and 2015 underway in Edinburgh against Scotland on February 4.

Johnny Sexton, Ultan Dillane and Keith Earls have all shaken off injury doubts to take their places in Schmidt’s playing group as they begin preparations for Murrayfield in 11 days. The Irish will go back on the road the following week when they travel to Rome to face Italy on February 11, by which time the uncapped Munster men named in the squad yesterday will have a much greater understanding of just what is required of an Ireland player under the detail-driven Schmidt.