If someone had told you, last August that Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane and Josh van der Flier would be fully fledged Ireland internationals by the end of the Six Nations, you may have turned and walked the other way.
One year and nine combined caps on, that is the reality.
Joe Schmidt is attempting to deepen the international playing pool here and is keen to have four quality men for each position. He’ll take three but he wants four.
Schmidt has been keen to get young talent into his Ireland training squad and see if they have the right stuff. If they do, they get a Test taste. If not, they go to the back of the queue and shuffle their way back.
Looking ahead to the new season, here are five young players that could be wearing Irish green by the seasons’ end. We won’t even mention Garry Ringrose because that is a foregone conclusion…
Joey Carbery, 20 (Leinster)
Was a sensation with Clontarf in last season’s Ulster Bank League. Gets his first Leinster start in the 10 jersey as Johnny Sexton is injured and Ian Madigan is with Bordeaux Beglés.
Both Leo Cullen and Girvan Dempsey light up when talking about the 20-year-old Kiwi outhalf. Has terrifying pace, can step off both feet and is daring in attack. Will be teamed up with Luke McGrath in the early rounds and will hope to make an impression.
Rory Scannell, 22 (Munster)
One of the bright spots of a tough season for Munster, last term. Formed an effective, at times thrilling, partnership with Francis Saili and fronted up in Europe.
Was in danger of being looked upon merely as a battering ram option until he found his attacking voice and started backing himself to beat his man. Went without a try in his first 22 senior appearances before stepping up when Munster needed him, at the end of the season.
With Champions Cup hopes receding, Scannell scored four tries in seven games including two on the final day – in a man-of-the-match performance – to guarantee Munster will tangle with the big boys this season.
Niyi Adeolokun, 25 (Connacht)
‘Young Niysy’ had the mother of all seasons for Connacht as they swept to Guinness PRO12 glory.
He went on a scoring drought for a couple of months but ended the season in unstoppable form – Munster, Glasgow and Leinster all tried and failed to shut him down. Schmidt would look upon the former DCU winger as an unpolished diamond but the benefits of playing under Pat Lam are clear for all to see.
Matt Healy and Tiernan O’Halloran eventually forced their way into the reckoning and touring South Africa. Back up a fantastic 2015/16 and the Nigeria-born winger could follow in their footsteps.
Jacob Stockdale, 20 (Ulster)
The Newtownstewart native was a revelation for Ireland U20s and the Junior World Championships [or whatever they call it now] this summer. Missed most of the U20 Six Nations, last season, as he was with the senior Ulster squad.
While most provinces would push a close friend off a pier to get their hands on a flying winger with pace and bravery to burn, Ulster are well stocked. Les Kiss is a big fan of the youngster and a bright start will not go unnoticed by Schmidt.
Luke McGrath, 23 (Leinster)
It says a lot about the fate Leinster have in McGrath that they allowed Isaac Boss to move on and Eoin Reddan to retire without much of a fight. Played 23 games for Leinster last season, set up seven tries and ran in five of his own.
Not quite at that Conor Murray level for game control but this is an important season for him. Hold off Nick McCarthy and Jamison Gibson-Park and he could have every chance of featuring in the November Series squads.
Other young stars we are keeping an eye on include James Ryan (Leinster), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Kyle McCall (Ulster), Brian Byrne (Leinster), James O’Donoghue (Munster), Kieran Treadwell (Ulster), Cian Kelleher (Connacht) and Barry Daly (Leinster), who lots of folks in rugby circles seem to be very excited about.
Consider our bets hedged.
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