Schmidt brings seven new faces into Ireland squad

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named seven uncapped players in his squad for the forthcoming Six Nations. Schmidt has named an initial 44-man squad for the tournament but that will be cut down to around 32 in advance of their opening game with Scotland in Dublin on February 2. Robin Copeland, who is set to join Munster from Cardiff Blues at the end of the season, leads the list of players called into the squad for the first time with Jordi Murphy, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Rob Herring, Martin Moore and Kieran Marmion all given the chance to impress. New Zealander Schmidt's hand has been forced slightly with a host of players out through injury, but he expects those coming in to step up and impress. Flanker Sean O'Brien will be a major absentee for Ireland after being ruled out for four months with a shoulder problem, while winger Tommy Bowe may return if he can recover from his torn groin muscle in time. "As always a number of the selections were very tight," Schmidt said. "Following on from the Guinness Series, there is an experienced core of players in the squad who will offer continuity, as well as some new additions who have been selected with an eye to the future. "With Robin Copeland returning to play in Ireland next season it will be an opportunity for him to impress during the training week, "While some of the younger or less experienced players such as Rob Herring, Iain Henderson, Rhys Ruddock, Kieran Marmion and Felix Jones have turned in some very positive performances to earn spots in the squad." Ireland's 44-man squad in full: Forwards: Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht), Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues), Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster), Rob Herring (Ballinahinch/Ulster), David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), Damian Varley (Garryowen/Munster) Backs: Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster), Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster), David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster, Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)