These returning Irish stars would give Joe Schmidt’s last XV a serious game

Shine up that Six Nations trophy, nice and pretty, because we want it back

Joe Schmidt will announce his extended Six Nations training squad, on Thursday, and is expected to include players for the Wolfhounds [Ireland A side]. The Wolfhounds take on England Saxons, on Friday, January 30, at Musgrave Park in Cork. With so many Test regulars returning from injury, short of game-time and a few positions highly-contested by in-form players, Schmidt could name one of the strongest ever 'A' teams in recent years. This is a potential XV that would certainly dismantle the Saxons and even given Schmidt's team [the one that started against Australia in November] a run for their money.

Loose-head: Cian Healy

Hooker: Sean Cronin

Tight-head: Marty Moore

Lock: Dave Foley

Lock: Iain Henderson

Blindside: Dominic Ryan

Openside: Sean O'Brien (captain)

Number 8: Robin Copeland

Scrum-half: Kieran Marmion

Out-half: Ian Keatley

Left wing: Dave Kearney

Inside centre: Jared Payne

Outside centre: Darren Cave

Right wing: Craig Gilroy

Full-back: Felix Jones

Potential Wolfhounds bench

James Cronin, Richardt Strauss, Rodney Ah You, Mike McCarthy, Tommy O'Donnell, Eoin Reddan, Gareth Steenson, Keith Earls. IRELAND XV (that beat Australia 26-23): Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Robbie Henshaw, Gordon D'Arcy, Simon Zebo; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony, Rhys Ruddock, Jamie Heaslip.