Easterby warns Ireland's experienced players as uncapped trio join Nations Championship tour

Ireland assistant coach Simon Easterby has put the squad’s senior players on notice, warning that a crop of younger players have made a strong early impression as Andy Farrell’s side prepare to open their Nations Championship campaign against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Farrell has named a 36-strong squad for the tour, which includes three uncapped Connacht players — Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen — alongside a number of established internationals. Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan will captain the side in the absence of several key figures.

“It is going to be an interesting few weeks in terms of selection, because some of the more experienced players are training well, but also some of the younger guys have made the mark as well,” Easterby said at a press conference.

Ireland arrive in Australia off the back of a promising Six Nations campaign in which they finished second behind France. However, they face a Wallabies side with a point to prove after a heavy 46-19 defeat in Dublin last November, and with a home World Cup in 2027 on the horizon.

“They are a physical team who will look to try and impose themselves on the opposition,” Easterby said of Australia. “Just expecting a side who have probably got a chance to go and lay down a bit of a marker leading into a World Cup year, playing at home for the first time in a while.”

The tour is without several prominent names. Caelan Doris is sidelined with a foot injury, while fly-half Jack Crowley, prop Andrew Porter and wingers Mack Hansen and Tommy O’Brien are also absent. Easterby, however, expressed satisfaction with how the replacements have integrated.

“Sometimes players miss out for whatever reason, through injury or non-selection, and you get the opportunity to work with other players, and they have all slotted in really well,” he said. “It is testament to the group that we have not had anyone drop out in training. They have worked hard, and I can say they have hit the ground running.”

Following the Australia fixture, Ireland will face Japan at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle before travelling to Eden Park in Auckland to take on New Zealand on July 18.