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Fixtures:
2020 6N
Ireland vs Italy 24/10/20
France vs Ireland 31/10/20
2020 8N
Ireland vs Wales 13/11/20
England vs Ireland 21/11/20
Ireland vs Georgia 29/11/20
Ireland vs TBC 5/12/20
2020 6N
Ireland vs Italy 24/10/20
France vs Ireland 31/10/20
2020 8N
Ireland vs Wales 13/11/20
England vs Ireland 21/11/20
Ireland vs Georgia 29/11/20
Ireland vs TBC 5/12/20
Presuming it will be one squad for the remaining Six Nations fixtures and another for the Eight Nations. Would imagine we'll go fairly full strength for the Six Nations since there's still a chance we can win it but would hope since world rankings don't matter for WC seedings we'll see some rotation for the 8N. Not sure about some injuries but will have a stab at what I'd like to see in a wider training squad at the moment. Not purposely in any starting order.
Loosehead: Kilcoyne, Healy, Loughman, O'Sullivan - Very worrisome position at the moment. Not sure on Kilcoyne's injury. Someone needs to stand up hence why I've thrown in two youngish guys. If we feel we need solidity at the position could just throw in McGrath. Cronin's a bit meh.
Hooker: Kelleher, Herring, Marshall - either Marshall or Cronin anyway, giving it to the younger guy. I like Heffernan but we already have the low ceiling guy there in Herring. Kelleher should start due to his ceiling. He got some flack for the lineout in the Pro 14 final but think some of it was unfair and his looseplay and scrummaging makes him worth persisting with.
Tighthead: Furlong, Porter, O'Toole - Furlong and Porter do currently have injury statuses that are up in the air but if they're fit they're our guys, though I would have Porter starting ahead of Furlong at the moment. If not fit any of Ryan, Bealham and Moore could provide adequate replacement and would probably leapfrog O'Toole who's still a bit raw.
Lock: Ryan, Henderson, Baird, Beirne, Kleyn - Baird has to make his debut. He has rare traits that we've been lacking the last few years. Would love himself or Beirne to get a go at 6 at some stage.
Backrow: Doris, Stander, Conan, VDF, Connors, Deegan - Very Leinster dominated but that's the way the talent is spread at the minute. POM will most likely be in the squad and there's some good arguments for him being in it but he shouldn't be in the 23. By the sounds of it Deegan may be at risk.
Scrumhalves: Gibson-Park, Marmion, Casey - Yikes. Not sure about current status of Murray's injury but understand he's in doubt for the 6N games. Marmion just being back from injury isn't ideal either, though there's a few weeks to get up and running obviously. Casey needs to get involved in the squad. His size will always be a limitation but his quality of service is possibly already the best in Ireland, if he gets some more consistency. McGrath needs to rediscover his pre-lockdown form with Leinster.
Outhalves: Sexton, R. Byrne, Carty, H. Byrne (apprentice) - I know some people want to be the one to correctly call Sexton's career as over but he's still head and shoulders above every option. I know TABby wants Madigan but I'd rather not. I don't think Ross or Carty are the answer for various reasons so hope Harry, Healy, Lowry and Johnston get time with their provinces.
Centres: Ringrose, Henshaw, Aki, Hume, Farrell - Hume deserves a go. Would love to give a playmaking option a go but Frawley is probably the most advanced there and he's probably not there yet, particularly with that nasty injury yesterday. Hume looks a talent.
Backthree: Conway, Lowe, Stockdale, Larmour, Keenan, Daly - There's a lot guys who are sameish at the moment without anyone really putting their hands up. Keenan and Daly are probably the form players at the moment. Earls and Lyttle probably both have some argument to be included. Pity Baloucoune is injured.
Including Harry Byrne there's 39 in that squad so there will probably be another player or two squeezed in. Probably POM and Earls. Hope the trend of apprentice players does continue. I only designated Harry as such but there's a few guys around the provinces who could be good shouts for it.