WINNERS
Ultane Dillane
The 22-year-old is the biggest bolter, his impressive form this season earning him a call-up. Parisian-born (his father is from the Ivory Coast), at the age of seven Dillane moved with his family to Tralee, home to his Irish mother, and played for St Mary’s CBS in Tralee and encouraged by an offer of €5 from his mother, began playing for Tralee RFC. Although in the Munster set-up, Dillane joined the Connacht academy in 2012 and was promoted to a full contract this season. An athletic 6’ 6” lock, he looks the real deal.
CJ Stander
The one-time South African under-20 captain qualified by residency immediately after the World Cup and his superb, lead-from-the-front captaincy of Munster in times of difficulty always made it probable that he would be included in the squad. Provides real ball-carrying ballast and a poacher's instincts, and will push for a place in the match-day squad to begin with.
Josh van der Flier
The rookie of the season, van der Flier’s emergence as that rarity, a genuine openside, has been duly recognised by Schmidt. Hence his exposure to the more rarified environs of the senior Irish squad as one of six back-rowers, only two of whom were at the World Cup. Also has a phenomenal work-rate and voracious tackle count. One of the future.
Stuart McCloskey
The 23-year-old product of Bangor Grammar School, Dungannon and the Ulster academy, at over 17 stone and 6' 3" McCloskey is built for modern-day test rugby. He has nailed down the inside centre role under Les Kiss, and has excellent footwork and takes good lines to augment his strength, McCloskey is also a good grappler and fine exponent of the choke tackle.
Luke Marshall
A sequence of concussions and other injuries have stalled since winning three caps in the 2013-14 season, but Marshall has returned to his best as McCloskey’s regular partner this season. The pair started Ulster’s last seven games, with Marshall scoring tries in both wins over Toulouse and the defeat away to Saracens. The Ballymena centre is still only 24.
LOSERS
Jordi Murphy
Highly regarded by Joe Schmidt, the 24-year-old Murphy appeared in all five games of last season's successful defence of the Six Nations, but is the only one of the nine players omitted from the World Cup squad whose exclusion cannot be at least partially attributed to injury. Possibly now a victim of his versatility, the utility back-rower needs to regain some form after effectively being usurped by van der Flier, O'Donnell and Stander.
Cian Healy
Whether or not he pushed himself too hard to somehow over a serious back operation in time for the World Cup, the normally indefatigable and unstoppable loosehead hasn't been back to his normal, high-octane self since then with Leinster. No less than Mike Ross, the door is still very much ajar.
Chris Henry
Also highly regarded by Schmidt and the coaching staff, injuries have undoubtedly contributed to his exclusion, but with so many upwardly mobile back-rowers this doesn’t look an opportune time to miss out. That said, like Healy and Ross, he was name checked by Schmidt in yesterday’s statement.
