Six Nations 2025 in focus: Inconsistent Ireland seek treble with Caelan Doris as captain | Rugby Union News

Six Nations title winners in 2024, Ireland’s form has suffered of late and they are under pressure to deliver until 2025.

Ireland as a whole behind an inconsistent 2024 After the disappointment of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, they got off to a flying start with a stunning 38-17 Six Nations win over France in Marseille, but were denied the chance of a historic back-to-back Grand Slams after a late defeat to England at Twickenham in round 4.

Facing a tough summer tour to world No.1 South Africa, they lost the first Test but then bounced back with a brilliant second Test display to beat the Springboks in Durban 25-24 to level the series 1-1.

They were far from their best in November in a 23-13 loss to New Zealand, but responded with wins over Argentina, Fiji and Australia – each with varying levels of performance, it must be said.

In 2025, Ireland host England and France, with a tough trip to Scotland. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Ireland’s first game with England at the Aviva…

Installations

• England – Aviva Stadium – Saturday 1 February – 4.45pm (GMT)
• Scotland – Murrayfield – Sunday 9 February – 15:00 (GMT)
• Wales – Principality Stadium – Saturday 22 February – 14:15 (GMT)
• France – Aviva Stadium – Saturday 8 March – 2.15pm (GMT)
• Italy – Stadio Olimpico – Saturday 15 March – 14.15 (GMT)

What has changed?

Ireland enter their third consecutive Six Nations campaign with a new captain in the form of Leinster No.8 Caelan Doris.

For the 2023 Grand Slam, Johnny Sexton led the side in his final season, while back-row Peter O’Mahony captained the 2024 title succession last year.

With O’Mahony now 35 and likely in his final season of professional rugby, Andy Farrell has made the decision to promote Doris for the autumn Tests and the powerful number 8 will be under the spotlight to lead well and silence suggestions that this is Ireland side in decline.

Speaking of Farrell, he will not be part of Ireland’s coaching staff for this championship, leaving to take up the role of head coach of the British and Irish Lions. Simon Easterby, who has coached Ireland since 2014 in charge of forwards and then defence, takes over as interim head coach.

The main talking point in team news this year is the out-half. Munster’s Jack Crowley held the shirt for most of 2024, playing every minute of the Six Nations title win and starting both Tests in South Africa, but Farrell decided to fast-track Leinster’s Sam Prendergast in November.

Whether Crowley keeps his place is of great interest and is the first big decision Easterby has to make.

What’s hot?

Despite their disappointing autumn campaign, Ireland still came away with three wins from four and retained some extremely talented players in their squad.

The likes of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Doris, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan would grace most teams in the world.

Some key men also returned from injury just in time for the start of the Six Nations in Sheehan and James Lowe – Sheehan, in particular, made a genuine case for being the best player in the world in his position, and everyone in Ireland will hopefully return after a serious knee injury without problems.

Tight prop Tadhg Furlong was another key player to return, only to suffer another calf injury in the Ireland camp.

Despite a home defeat to New Zealand in November, Ireland maintained a very impressive record in Dublin in the Six Nations. They haven’t lost at home in the Championship since February 2021 and haven’t lost in a home Six Nations trial with a crowd in six years, since February 2019.

Odd-numbered years in the calendar are also campaigns where Ireland usually have a better chance of winning the title – avoiding France and England away games could play a big part, though.

What isn’t?

The loss of head coach Farrell will certainly have an impact, while the overwhelming dominance of Leinster players within this Irish squad seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Some 23 of the 36 selected are under contract in Leinster, leaving in-form players in other provinces scratching their heads about what they need to do to earn a national call-up.

Munster are the main casualties in this with the quality of Oli Jager, Thomas Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes, Tom Farrell and Shane Daly absent, while Ulster’s Jude Postlethwaite and Nick Timoney are also overlooked.

All three of the team’s loosehead props are from Leinster, while three of the four whores are also from the Dublin-based province. Center Hugh Cooney is in the game as a development player over Postlethwaite despite barely featuring this season.

There is a growing feeling in parts of the country that the IRFU’s management of the national side is no longer fit for purpose, and frustration is running high. Connacht winger Hansen was recently suspended for three weeks after complaining about the refereeing standards in a match against Leinster in Dublin.

Scrum-half Craig Casey’s serious knee injury in the form of his career and Ulster prop Tom O’Toole’s suspension are also blows, while the late news that Furlong has been ruled out ahead of the England game is also very bad timing.

The main negative for Ireland though is their form. The power and sharp brilliance of 2023 has not been on display for long and there is no doubt that the side enters 2025 with something to prove.

Championship record

Six Nations since 2000: Six-time winners (2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2024)

Overall: 16 titles (1894, 1896, 1899, 1935, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1974, 1982, 1985, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2024)

Ireland’s 36-man squad for Six Nations 2025:

Forward: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Back: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster)