BBC Sport NI looks at some of the talking points from Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby's Six Nations squad.

One of the highlights from the recent Autumn Nations Series was the emergence of a number of new internationals in Thomas Clarkson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Gus McCarthy and Sam Prendergast,” the interim boss said.

As expected, in what was his first Six Nations squad announcement as Ireland interim head coach, Simon Easterby stuck with the solid foundations laid by Andy Farrell rather than ripping up the script and making wholesale changes.

Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has named uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle in a 36-man squad for the Guinness Six Nations. The 22-year-old Boyle has been selected ahead of Ulster’s Tom O’Toole, who is unavailable for his country’s first two games of the tournament due to suspension following his red card against Munster.

Ireland's squad for this year's Six Nations tournament is due to be announced at around 2pm this afternoon. Simon Easterby will be the man tasked with picking the squad for the back-to-back defending champions, with Andy Farrell taking the reigns as British and Irish Lions boss ahead of a tour down under in the summer.

Simon Easterby stuck with the tried and tested in his first squad as interim coach of two-time defending Six Nations champions Ireland on Wednesday, naming just one uncapped player in a 36-man roster.