Jack Carty gets opportunity at Ireland redemption

The Connacht fly-half was jettisoned in the wake of the shock pool loss to Japan at the 2019 World Cup and had not seen in an Ireland camp until November

Jack Carty and Diarmuid Kilgallen at Connacht Rugby squad training in Galway on Wednesday. Picutre: INPHO/James Crombie

Andy Farrell selected his squad for the Guinness Six Nations knowing they had taken a big leap forward during a successful Autumn Nations Series. Now the mission will be to keep the momentum gathering over the next eight weeks.

What promises to be a wide-open championship begins in 16 days with the visit of injury-hit defending champions Wales to Aviva Stadium and head coach Farrell yesterday stuck largely with the group of players who impressed both individually and collectively for much of 2021 when Ireland lowered the colours of England, Japan twice, Argentina, and New Zealand during an eight-Test winning run.