Ireland head coach Andy Farrell commented: “In November we challenged the group to get up to speed quickly so that the team could perform at international level. Johnny Sexton has retained the captaincy for the tournament while Connacht’s Cian Prendergast will join the squad for the training camp in Portugal as a Development Player. That is the only change among the 20 forwards chosen for the November Tests.ĭespite injury concerns to Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Iain Henderson and Jordan Larmour, they have all been included as well. The 26-year-old Ulster lock Kieran Treadwell, who won three caps in 2017, has been recalled to fill the void left by Ultan Dillane’s departure at the end of the season, having edged out Ross Molony and Fineen Wycherley. In addition to Lowe, who started all three Tests and scored tries in the wins over Japan and New Zealand, a lack of rugby has also seen Simon Zebo, Stuart McCloskey and Ciarán Frawley miss out after being named in November.
SUNDAY GAME RTE PLAYER INTERNATIONAL FULL
Joey Carbery, although still not back in full training, has been recuperating well from the fractured elbow he suffered in Munster’s Champions Cup win away to Wasps five weeks ago and is included. Harry Byrne, although recovered from the hamstring injury which has sidelined him since earning his second cap against Argentina, misses out. His Connacht team-mate Jack Carty, who hasn’t played for Ireland since the World Cup, has also been rewarded for his form with a recall. He is the province’s leading try scorer with six tries in nine games. Hansen was added to the November squad and despite again missing out on a Champions Cup debut last weekend, the 23-year-old Irish-qualified ex-Brumbies winger has been a revelation since arriving at Connacht.
Lowry, who trained with the squad during the summer series, made 190 metres from 16 carries, beating seven defenders and making three clean breaks last Sunday. The 23-year-old Lowry has been rewarded for some electric form after an extended run at fullback for Ulster of late, culminating in his two-try man-of-the-match performance in last Sunday’s bonus-point win away to Northampton. Ulster’s Michael Lowry and Connacht’s Mack Hansen are the two uncapped players named in Ireland’s 37-man squad for the 2022 Guinness Six Nations, with James Lowe an unexpected omission after sustaining a muscle injury.
0 kommentar(er)
