Talking points from Easterby's first Ireland squad

While Andy Farrell's absence ensures this year's Six Nations will feel a little different for Ireland, there is a familiar and settled look to the squad.

Simon Easterby, who is stepping in to lead Ireland's hat-trick bid while Farrell is occupied with the British and Irish Lions, has included just one uncapped player - Jack Boyle - in his 36-man panel.

At the other end of the experience spectrum, Easterby has retained the services of Ireland's most seasoned campaigners, in some cases at the expense of those who had hoped to break into the Test arena on the back of impressive form at club level.

Now that the squad is out, the countdown to Ireland's opener against England at Aviva Stadium on 1 February is on.

Here are the talking points from Wednesday's squad announcement.

There has been a lot of positive news on the injury front for Easterby, some of which have spared the 49-year-old a few headaches.

Perhaps the most encouraging fitness update centres on Dan Sheehan. The 26-year-old hooker has been outstanding at Test level in recent years, but has not played since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury against South Africa in July.

While the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] has said Sheehan linking up with the squad depends on how he fares for Leinster over the next couple of weeks, even having him in contention six months after an injury of that nature is a big boost for Easterby.

There are further positives in the shape of Sheehan's Leinster team-mates James Lowe and Tadhg Furlong, too.

Furlong, who returned from a three-month lay-off against La Rochelle last weekend, was missed during the autumn campaign while Lowe's rehabilitation is much welcome given the injury Jacob Stockdale picked up against Fiji on 23 November has ruled the Ulsterman out of the squad.

Easterby has opted against dropping any of Ireland's old guard.

While Steve Borthwick omitted veteran prop Dan Cole from his England squad on Tuesday, Borthwick has kept faith in Ireland's old guard.

That includes record cap holder Cian Healy, whose Test career appeared in jeopardy after missing the 2023 World Cup because of injury.

Healy, who will turn 38 later this year, is retained alongside former captain Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Iain Henderson and Rob Herring, all of whom have struggled with injuries of late.

That is not to say the Ireland squad is entirely shorn of exciting youngsters. Boyle is 22, Sam Prendergast and Gus McCarthy are 21, Joe McCarthy and Jamie Osborne are 23, while Cormac Izuchukwu and Thomas Clarkson are 24.

It is quite clear, however, that Easterby has decided that this summer's matches against Georgia and Portugal are more suited to radical experimentation while many of Ireland's frontline stars are expected to be with Farrell's Lions in Australia.

Beyond the main squad, Easterby will get a closer look at Hugh Cooney (Leinster), Cathal Forde (Connacht), James McNabney (Ulster), Ben Murphy (Connacht) after including them as development players.

Back row McNabney has been one of the bright sparks of a gloomy Ulster season, fellow Under-20 Grand Slam winner Cooney shone during the recent Emerging Ireland series in South Africa and Forde has started the season well for Connacht.

And then there is Ben Murphy, who is perhaps unlucky to have been overlooked for the main squad. Murphy, the son of Ulster head coach Richie Murphy, has starred for Connacht after leaving Leinster last summer with seven tries in 10 appearances, including a hat-trick against Lyon in the Challenge Cup last weekend.

It seemed as though Craig Casey's injury had opened a door for Murphy, but he was edged out by Connacht team-mate Caolin Blade, whose involvement in last summer's series in South Africa has seemingly swayed the call in the 30-year-old's favour.

Many within Irish rugby circles will also spare a thought for Tom Ahern after he was overlooked despite having stood out during a turbulent season for Munster.

It is more pain for the 24-year-old forward was replaced by Cian Prendergast in last year's Six Nations training squad after suffering a head injury while playing for Munster.

Ulster's Nick Timoney is also unfortunate to miss out. A consistent performer for the Belfast-based club, it will deepen the 29-year-old's frustrations after failing to make a matchday squad during the autumn Tests.

Of course, Easterby's first experience of leading tight squad calls at this level will prepare him for the inevitable scrutiny awaiting his fly-half selection for the England game.

In the lead-up to Ireland's Six Nations opener in France 12 months ago, there was little doubt that Jack Crowley would inherit Sexton's 10 jersey.

Crowley ended up playing every minute of that championship and started both Tests against South Africa, but he now faces stiff competition from Sam Prendergast.

Prendergast only made his debut in November but was, notably, preferred to Crowley for the Australia game on 30 November.

The 21-year-old has had the benefit of playing in a Leinster team who have won all 12 games this season, but Crowley's impact off the bench in the Australia game was a striking reminder of his ability to impact games at Test level.

Easterby knows both players well having coached them on Emerging Ireland tours. England wrecked Ireland's bid for back-to-back Grand Slams last year. Picking the right fly-half will go a long way in Ireland's revenge mission and could set the tone for this Farrell-less campaign.