JOE SCHMIDT HAS laid down a challenge to the Ireland Wolfhounds to force their way into his plans for the Six Nations opener against Italy in just over two weeks.

Connacht forwards coach Dan McFarland takes charge of the Wolfhounds for tomorrow’s meeting with the England Saxons at Musgrave Park in Cork and has indicated that all those involved have realistic chances of going on to play against the Italians.

Indeed, the likes of Sean O’Brien, Ian Madigan, Luke Fitzgerald, Mike Ross, Jack McGrath, Kieran Marmion and Iain Henderson will have particularly high hopes of travelling to Rome as part of Schmidt’s matchday squad if they can shine against the Saxons.

Speaking after announcing the Wolfhounds selection, McFarland explained how Schmidt and his coaching team have viewed this fixture.

The approach was based on giving players an opportunity to put their hand up going forward into the Six Nations. There is obviously a mixture of experience and young players in the team.

“Some players have not played as many minutes over the last couple of months as is deemed necessary going into the Six Nations and this is seen as an opportunity for them to take the field and get some minutes under their belt.”

Ian Keatley is not part of the squad, though McFarland said the Munster out-half is ”definitely fit.” It had been anticipated that both he and Madigan would get game time against the Saxons before Schmidt made a decision as to his starting out-half against Italy in Johnny Sexton’s absence.

McFarland says players can put their hands up tomorrow evening. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

McFarland said the decision not to involve Keatley was down to the fact that Ireland’s coaching team already know what he brings at out-half.

“I think Ian Keatley has been playing extremely well at fly-half over the last while and probably had more of an opportunity to show what he can do,” said McFarland.

Ian Madigan obviously hasn’t played as much at fly-half, and as a result it’s a good opportunity to get him on the field there at 10 to be able to put his hand up.”

Jared Payne is another notable absentee, with an IRFU spokesman saying the Ulster back is fit but ”wasn’t considered for selection” for this game. Whether that means he is to play in Rome remains to be seen.

Similarly, Munster openside Tommy O’Donnell “is fit,” but the fact that both he and Leinster’s Jordi Murphy will not play tomorrow night leaves us guessing around who will wear seven against Italy.

Sean O’Brien’s return adds another string to that selection debate, especially if the Leinster flanker comes through tomorrow evening unscathed. McFarland says O’Brien has been “bouncing around the training pitch, a very hungry man.”

Marmion gets a start in the nine shirt. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Kieran Marmion’s start at scrum-half has nothing to do with Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan’s injury issues, outlined McFarland. Instead, ”we wanted to see Kieran playing at nine for the Wolfhounds with experienced players around him.”

Robbie Diack will provide the second row cover from the bench, with Connacht’s Eoin McKeon there for back row support after not being named in Schmidt’s original 46-man training squad ahead of this month’s Six Nations preparation.

Finally, McFarland said that Luke Fitzgerald’s form at outside centre for Leinster means he is being considered for that position ahead of the Six Nations, but getting him on the pitch was the priority for tomorrow evening.

“That’s on record that Luke has put in some good performances at centre. I think the thinking there is that we wanted to see Luke playing and this weekend we want to see him playing on the wing, a position he’s extremely comfortable in.”

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