Our Ireland XV For Their Six Nations Opener Against Wales

The Six Nations officially kicks-off one month from today and it’s time we started looking at Joe Schmidt’s potential XV for Ireland’s opener against Wales.

Ireland go in to the Six Nations without Paul O’Connell, Iain Henderson, Tommy Bowe and Peter O’Mahony for certain with the possibility of a few more casualties in the next number of weeks.

Ireland will be looking to win the Six Nations for an unprecedented third time in a row, but there is no doubt this will be Joe Schmidt’s toughest Six Nations yet. England and France have serious chips on their shoulders as they usher in new eras and new management, while Scotland and Wales will be looking to build on impressive World Cup displays, where both sides could very easily have ended up in the semi-finals.

Here’s the side we reckon should take to the field against Wales providing they can all stay fit in the coming weeks.

What do you think? Let us know your XV in the comments.