Squad to be named on January 21st, and play opening game against France in Paris on February 5th
Paddy McCarthy(Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
Ireland are struggling to find an experienced loosehead prop for the opening Six Nations game with France in Stade de France on February 5th.
Andrew Porter’s ‘niggle’ picked up in training is far more serious than expected while his breakthrough November understudy, Paddy McCarthy was injured against La Rochelle and is not set to return for around six weeks.
Porter and McCarthy, between them starting and being on the bench, played the four November Series games.
Leinster’s Jack Boyle started the two summer games while Porter was away with the Lions. The previous two players to have started at no1 for Ireland, Cian Healy in August 2023 and Dave Kilcoyne also in August 2023, have retired.
Current Munster prop Jeremy Loughman had a November 2022 start against Fiji while Connacht’s Finlay Bealham, nominally a tighthead, last started there in November 2020.
Munster’s Michael Milne was understudy to Boyle for the Georgia and Portugal games last July.
He has had started six games for Munster this season and been on the bench three times behind Loughman who has started seven of his eight appearances including last weekend against Toulon.