Six Nations title winners in 2024, Ireland’s form has suffered of late and they are under pressure to perform heading into 2025.
Ireland are off the back of an inconsistent 2024 on the whole. Following the disappointment of the Rugby World Cup in 2023, they started magnificently with a stunning 38-17 Six Nations victory over France in Marseille but were denied the chance for historic back-to-back Grand Slams after 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 hit back with a brilliant second Test showing and last-gasp 25-24 win over the Springboks in Durban to draw the series 1-1.
In November, they were far from their best in a 23-13 defeat to New Zealand, but did respond with victories over Argentina, Fiji and Australia – each with varying levels of performance, it must be said.
In 2025, Ireland host England and France, alongside a tough trip to Scotland. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Ireland’s opening fixture with England at the Aviva…
Fixtures
- England – Aviva Stadium – Saturday, February 1 – 4.45pm (GMT)
- Scotland – Murrayfield – Sunday, February 9 – 3pm (GMT)
- Wales – Principality Stadium – Saturday, February 22 – 2.15pm (GMT)
- France – Aviva Stadium – Saturday, March 8 – 2.15pm (GMT)
- Italy – Stadio Olimpico – Saturday, March 15 – 2.15pm (GMT)
What’s changed?
For the third Six Nations campaign in succession, Ireland enter into it 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 was skipper for the 2024 title succession last year.
Peter O’Mahony captained Ireland to the 2024 Six Nations title, but is no longer the captain
With O’Mahony now 35 and in all likelihood into his final season of professional rugby, Andy Farrell made the decision to promote Doris for the autumn Tests, and the forceful No 8 will be under a spotlight to lead well and quieten suggestions this is an Ireland side on the decline.
Doris will be under pressure to perform and lead a side who many are saying are in decline
Speaking of Farrell, he will not be part of the Ireland coaching staff for this championship, departing on his secondment as British and Irish Lions head coach. Simon Easterby, who has coached with Ireland since 2014 in charge of the forwards and then defence, takes over as interim head coach.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will not lead the side this Six Nations due to his role as British and Irish Lions head coach
The main team news talking point this year surrounds 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 chose to fast track Leinster’s Sam Prendergast in November.
Whether Crowley retains his place is of huge interest and the first big call Easterby must make.
Munster’s Jack Crowley was the starting out-half in 2024, but his place in the team is now under big pressure
Sam Prendergast started over Crowley vs Australia in November before he had started a Leinster Champions Cup game
What’s hot?
For all that their autumn campaign was underwhelming, Ireland still walked away with three victories from four and retain 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 squads in the world.
Ireland, for their patchy form, retain some of the best players in the world like Tadhg Beirne
Some key men have also returned from injury just in time for the start of the Six Nations in Sheehan and James Lowe – Sheehan, in particular, had a genuine argument he was the form player in the world in his position, and all in Ireland will hope he returns from a serious knee injury with no issues.
Tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong was another key player to make it back, only to suffer a reoccurrence of his calf injury in Ireland camp.
Dan Sheehan was arguably the best hooker in the world before his knee injury, and his return – if fit – will be a big boost
Despite the home loss to New Zealand in November, Ireland retain 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 a Six Nations home Test with a crowd for six years dating back to February 2019.
Odd years in the calendar are also campaigns in which Ireland usually have a better chance for a title tilt – avoiding France and England away could yet play a huge part.
What’s not?
The loss of head coach Farrell is sure to have an impact, while the overwhelming dominance of Leinster players within this Ireland squad appears a disaster waiting to happen.
Farrell not being involved in the Ireland set-up is sure to be a major loss
Some 23 of the 36 picked are contracted at Leinster, leaving players in impressive form at other provinces scratching their heads as to what they have to do to receive a national call-up.
Munster are the main victims in this with quality such as Oli Jager, Thomas Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes, Tom Farrell and Shane Daly absent, while Ulster’s Jude Postlethwaite and Nick Timoney have also been ignored.
All three of the squad’s loosehead props are from Leinster, while three of the four hookers are also from the Dublin-based province. Centre Hugh Cooney is in as a development player over the likes of Postlethwaite despite barely featuring this season.
There is a feeling growing in parts of the country that the national side’s management by the IRFU is no longer fit for purpose, with frustration reaching peak levels. Connacht wing Hansen was recently suspended for three weeks for complaining about refereeing standards in a match against Leinster in Dublin.
Scrum-half Craig Casey’s serious knee injury when in the form of his career and the suspension of Ulster prop Tom O’Toole are also blows, while the late news Furlong has been ruled out before the England game is also very bad timing.
The main negative for Ireland surrounds their form, though. The power and incisive brilliance of 2023 hasn’t been on show for a long time, and there is no doubt the side are going into 2025 with something to prove.
Championship record
Six Nations since 2000: Six-time winners (2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2024)
Overall: 16 titles outright (1894, 1896, 1899, 1935, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1974, 1982, 1985, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2024)
Ireland’s 36-player squad for the 2025 Six Nations:
Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt), 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)
Backs: 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)
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