Cian Tracey: The future starts now as Craig Casey leads fresh Irish squad into battle
Next month's games in Georgia and Portugal provide chance to impress
Cian Tracey
The extent to which this is a new-look Ireland squad for the upcoming summer tour is best illustrated when considering the following: Paul O'Connell is a new interim head coach at the forefront of what is a fresh backroom team, and Craig Casey is a new captain, leading a largely inexperienced squad that includes 11 uncapped players.
Indeed, this is a senior squad like no other in recent memory, as Andy Farrell, the majority of his assistants and a record 15 Ireland players are gearing up for the Lions tour to Australia. It has left O'Connell to keep the show on the road for two fully capped Tests that have important ranking points riding on them ahead of December's 2027 World Cup draw.
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