Winners and losers from Simon Easterby's first Ireland selection

On Wednesday, Simon Easterby named a 36-player Ireland squad for the Six Nations. Were there any surprises? 

Tom Ahern of Munster celebrates after his side's victory the Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 match between Munster and Saracens at Thomond Park in Limerick. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Good Day 

Caelan Doris  

Retained as Ireland captain after a winning autumn as leader, his leadership of an unbeaten Leinster side has not diminished his powers as an elite No.8 and Ireland will hope the same continues to apply in this year’s championship.

Dan Sheehan 

Ireland’s first-choice hooker set to end a more than six-month absence with a serious knee injury this Saturday for Leinster against Bath. A timely return with the opening game of the Six Nations now just 16 days away when England visit Dublin on February 1. Ireland’s title bid will be boosted by his presence.

Leinster’s third-choice front row 

With eight of Simon Easterby’s 10 front-row selections hailing from one province, the interim boss has delved deep into Leinster resources. Uncapped loosehead Jack Boyle joins hooker Gus McCarthy and tighthead Thomas Clarkson, both handed Test debuts in November, as the back-ups behind Andrew Porter and Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, and Tadhg Furlong respectively. Leinster tighthead Rabah Slimani was also called up by France on Wednesday.

Bad Day 

Nick Timoney 

An unused squad member in the last three Test windows, so imagine the frustration for the Ulster back row at being overlooked this time around in favour of fit-again No.8 Jack Conan. Timoney’s third and most recent Test cap came in November 2022 against Fiji.

Tom Ahern 

Getting benched by Munster last weekend was not good for the Waterford lock’s prospects of a call-up and his worst fears will have been realised by Easterby’s selection. A 2024 Six Nations call-up as a training panellist remains the closest Ahern has come to Ireland recognition, injury at the end of last season having stymied what looked like strong odds of a place on the South Africa tour.

Tom Farrell 

A career reborn this season at Munster following a summer exit from Connacht has not been recognised with an Ireland call-up for the impressive outside centre, despite an injury to squad regular Stuart McCloskey. Instead, interim boss Easterby has plumped for the more versatile Jimmy O’Brien to back up his world-class midfield trio of Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, the utility back also able to cover full-back and wing.