Six Nations 2017 Preview: Ireland Aren't Changing What Isn't Broken

As the countdown to the 2017 Six Nations continues, James Harrington surveys Joe Schmidt’s squad and rues the omission of some form players.

What to look out for
It’s pretty much ‘as you were’ for Ireland, after Joe Schmidt announced by email a well-worn squad with little new for anyone to get particularly excited about. There’s nothing wrong with that – why tinker too much with a formula that worked against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in 2016? But a number of in-form players, notably Leinster wings Adam Byrne and Rory O’Loughlin, can maybe consider themselves unfortunate to have missed out.

Strengths
That powerful and mobile back row of CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip – with Van der Flier on the bench is pretty damn impressive. Scarily, Ireland also have not-quite-fit Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, who was fire-and-brimstone brilliant off the bench against Australia, and Jack Conan to keep the trio honest. Then, there’s the midfield partnership of Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, who have transferred club form to Test level. Who needs project player Jared Payne?

Weakness
Ironically, a player who should be considered a strength: Johnny Sexton has played barely two hours of rugby since injuring his hamstring in the second Test against New Zealand on November 19, but was still named in Ireland’s Six Nations’ squad, such is his importance to the team. Then, he limped off midway through the first half of Leinster’s final European Champions Cup pool match after feeling a niggle. After saying that Sexton had resumed full training this week, Ireland revealed on Tuesday that he has been ruled out of the opening match against Scotland. Schmidt had only named Paddy Jackson as understudy, but Ian Keatley was expected to join up with the squad at short notice.

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The Man in Charge
In October 2016, Joe Schmidt signed a contract extension to stay on as Ireland coach until after the 2019 World Cup in Japan. After that, he may think it’s time to move on – but such questions are two-and-a-half years away. In rugby terms at least, everything is all kinds of settled in Dublin – and that’s got to be good for the Irish.

Player to Watch
Niall Scannell. With Leinster’s Sean Cronin injured, the job of Rory Best’s understudy should go to the Munster man – who has been in rare form in the Pro12 and the European Champions Cup – rather than Cronin’s Leinster compatriot James Tracy. Scannell is strong in the scrum, a better lineout performer than Tracy and has the pace to be more than useful in the loose. The 34-year-old Best is entering the twilight of an impressive international career. Scannell, 10 years his junior, could be the player to fill his boots, despite the arrival from New Zealand of Rhys Marshall last October.

Big Match
Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. Ireland v England in Dublin. The final match of the final round of the 2017 Six Nations. Both sides potentially coming into the game unbeaten. Everything to play for including, for Eddie Jones’s men, bettering New Zealand’s winning streak. Tournament rugby wouldn’t get much better than that.

Prediction
Second. The media have handed Ireland the job of England’s Grand Slam killers-in-chief – and they have been installed as favourites in some quarters. But there’s the small matter of the penultimate weekend’s trip to Cardiff to consider first. And the trip to Italy before that – not to mention the opening day journey to Edinburgh, to face Scotland. Three away matches followed by a final-day encounter with England does not make for an easy Six Nations for Joe Schmidt’s men.

Squad
Forwards: Finlay Bealham, Rory Best, Jack Conan, Ultan Dillane, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Billy Holland, Dave Kilcoyne, Dan Leavy, Jack McGrath, Sean O’Brien, Tommy O’Donnell, Peter O’Mahony, Donnacha Ryan, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, CJ Stander, Devin Toner, James Tracy, Josh van der Flier.
Backs: Tommy Bowe, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, Rob Kearney, Kieran Marmion, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Luke McGrath, Conor Murray, Tiernan O’Halloran, Garry Ringrose, Rory Scannell, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo