Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will reveal his squad for next month's Nations Championship home leg on Wednesday, a selection likely to spark debate with less than a year to go until the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Ireland face Argentina, Fiji and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium, before the finals weekend at Twickenham. Ireland opened the campaign with wins over Australia and Japan, but lost 40-21 to New Zealand in Auckland.
Farrell will be without several key players. Captain Caelan Doris is still recovering from knee and foot issues, and Jack Conan left Stade Marcel-Michelin with his arm in a sling after Munster's Champions Cup win over Clermont. That could open the door for Sean Jansen, who scored on his Test debut against Japan. Fly-half Jack Crowley remains out with a vascular injury, and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is expected to be included despite a groin strain that has kept him out of Leinster's season so far.
There is positive news on the injury front. First-choice loose-head Andrew Porter is available for the first time since last year's defeat by the Springboks in Dublin, while Ryan Baird is also back. Winger Mack Hansen returns after an injury-hit 2025-26 season.
With Crowley absent, Sam Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley are battling for the number 10 jersey, and both have impressed in recent weeks. Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster all began their European campaigns with victories, giving Farrell plenty to weigh up before the announcement at 15:00 BST.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing