Ireland Six Nations Squad 2022

Ireland may have fallen short in the Six Nations title race but they still had a trophy to lift on the final day – the Triple Crown.

They secured that piece of silverware with a 26-5 bonus-point victory over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. If France had slipped up against England, they would have won the title too but they ultimately had to settle for second place in the Six Nations table.

Ireland team to play Scotland – Saturday 19 March

Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson Park; Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Robbie Henshaw.

England 15-32 Ireland

Late tries from Jack Conan and Finlay Bealham ensured Ireland left Twickenham with a 32-15 bonus-point victory against England to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive.

Charlie Ewels was sent off after just two minutes for a dangerous tackle on James Ryan and Ireland were quick to take advantage with a James Lowe try. Hugo Keenan crossed for a second shortly before the break after hitting a great line off a Jamison Gibson-Park penalty. Yet England were level at 15-15 at the hour mark.

Eventually Ireland broke 14-man England with those late tries and as well as targeting a Triple Crown against Scotland next weekend, they will be hoping their opponents in this match can beat France to help their title bid.

Ireland team to play England – Saturday 12 March

Hugo Keenan; Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson Park; Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Robbie Henshaw.

Ireland 57-6 Italy

Ireland thumped 13-man Italy by running in nine tries in their third-round Six Nations match in Dublin.

The final scoreline was 57-6 but the hosts had a two-man advantage for an hour after Epalahame Favia was sent off for a dangerous tackle. As starting hooker Gianmarco Lucceshi had already gone off with injury and Italy had no other player able to play there, tthey had to lose another player due to the law around uncontested scrums being caused by an act of foul play.

As for Ireland’s tries, James Lowe and Michael Lowry both scored braces while Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park, Peter O’Mahony, Ryan Baird and Kieran Treadwell also crossed the line.

Ireland team to face Italy – Sunday 27 February

Michael Lowry; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Johnny Sexton, James Hume.

France 30-24 Ireland

Ireland lost 30-24 to France in their second match of the 2022 Six Nations in Paris.

Antoine Dupont scored an early try for France but Mack Hansen replied for Ireland shortly afterwards, only for the boot of Melvyn Jaminet to extend the hosts’ lead to 22-7 in the 43rd minute.

Then Ireland hit back with two quick-fire tries from Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park, both converted by Joey Carbery, to make it 22-21.

Cyril Baille crossed to give France a six-point cushion, then Carbery closed the gap again with a penalty before Jaminet slotted a sixth penalty and ultimately a win remained out of reach for the visitors.

So it’s advantage France after a Six Nations spectacular, but Ireland do leave Paris with a losing bonus point that could prove important in the title race.

Ireland team to face France – Saturday 12 February

Hugo Keenan; Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan (captain) Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Jack Carty, Robbie Henshaw

Ireland 29-7 Wales

Ireland kicked off their Six Nations campaign with a 29-7 victory over Wales in Dublin – a record fifth straight home win over the Welsh.

Andrew Conway scored a brace in the bonus-point win while Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose also crossed as Ireland produced a commanding performance over the defending champions.

Taine Basham got a late try but the Irish will head to Paris next weekend full of confidence.

Ireland team to face Wales – Saturday 5 February

Hugo Keenan; Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Johnny Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, James Hume.

Ireland Six Nations Squad 2022

Andy Farrell has named his Ireland squad for the 2022 Six Nations squad.

There are two uncapped players selected amongst the backs – the versatile Michael Lowry and wing Mack Hansen – but Simon Zebo has not been selected while wings Jacob Stockdale and James Lowe have both been ruled out by injury.

Fly-half and Test centurion Johnny Sexton will captain the side with Conor Murray and Keith Earls other experienced backs in the ranks.

Farrell said: “In November we challenged the group to get up to speed quickly so that the team could perform at international level. The same will apply for this Six Nations campaign, we need to be at our best against Wales on the opening weekend.

“It will be an exciting championship with so many strong squads and impressive performances across the board during the autumn.”

Johnny Sexton is captain for the championship (Getty Images)

Forwards

(DoB/Province/Position/Test debut/caps)