Andy Farrell insisted that Ireland's injury list was a bit larger than normal ahead of their Six Nations opener, but he is confident in those untested players to perform. 

Farrell's major concerns ahead of taking on France next Thursday are in his front row, with Jack Boyle joining fellow props Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy on the sidelines. 

Robbie Henshaw will miss the start of the tournament, while Calvin Nash, Jimmy O'Brien, Ryan Baird, Shayne Bolton, Mack Hansen, Jordan Larmour and Tom Ahern are also out.

Connacht prop Billy Bohan, Munster second-row Edwin Edogbo and Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak are the three uncapped players who were named in the 37-man squad. 

"It is what it is. It's a bit larger than normal, but there's always something going on, there's always someone retiring, in form, out of form, injured," Farrell said of Ireland's injuries. 

"It'll be a good experience for the guys that are coming in.

"We want to make sure we see the rest of the squad galvanise those guys and give them the belief they had coming in when people helped them start off at international level.

"These types of experiences are always going to stand for us, hopefully in the here and now."

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Under Farrell, Ireland claimed back-to-back championship titles, including a grand slam in 2023, before he temporarily stepped aside last year to lead the British and Irish Lions' triumphant tour of Australia.

Under interim head coach Simon Easterby, Ireland won four of five matches in the 2025 Six Nations but ultimately finished third following an emphatic round-four defeat at home to eventual champions France.

Ireland come into this year's championship off the back of an underwhelming period, where they relinquished their Six Nations title to France and endured a mixed autumn. 

And Farrell has urged his squad to learn from the November Tests, saying: "Different type of season for us.

"No excuses, it's just a matter of making sure we learn from how we keep evolving as a team," Farrell added. 

"Obviously, the game is changing as well, moving with the times of that and sorting out a few things like our discipline.

"People are getting caught up with how much the ball is being kicked at this moment in time, but I still believe there's the scope for some good rugby along the way as well."