Michael Scully takes a look at a number of Irish rugby's young guns poised for a big 2022 if opportunity knocks at club and Test level.
Andy Farrell has to negotiate the Six Nations championship and a three-Test tour in New Zealand before the season ends and so will be trying to add further depth to his squad, while keeping an eye on what he needs for France 2023.
Some of these players could become key players for the provinces and for their country by then.
Dan Sheehan
Got a taste for international rugby when he came on for 26 minutes against Japan in November and made quite the impact with five carries, nine tackles and a turnover. It's what the dynamic hooker does and, at 23, the 6'3, 15 stone Lansdowne talent looks ready for a real battle for game time with Leinster team-mate Ronan Kelleher for club and country.
James Hume
Also 23, the talented Ulster centre will target adding more Test caps to his one to date - against the USA last summer - and, after recent stand-out displays against Leinster, Clermont and Northampton that earned him praise from Ronan O'Gara, Hume will surely be in Andy Farrell's thinking with the Six Nations looming.
Cian Prendergast
Connacht is a great place for young players to learn their trade and, while only 21, flanker Prendergast is already being trusted by Andy Friend to play in big games for the province. He is versatile, too - having started out as a teenage out-half and centre, he can play in the second and back rows. A product of the Curragh - his parents are ex-Army - and Newbridge College, he was man of the match against Munster on Saturday and can keep improving.
Patrick Campbell
Gave up a promising Gaelic Football career - the Nemo Rangers man was instrumental in Cork's 2019 All-Ireland minor title win - to pursue a rugby career. The 19-year-old was turning heads in the AIL before he was composure personified on his Munster debut at Wasps. If not one for now, then definitely one for the future.
Ryan Baird
Like Dan Sheehan, Baird stands out from the pack because he marries mobility with sheer power. He can play in the back row but his future is likely to remain in the second row, alongside James Ryan if the latter stays fit. Baird is 6'6 and over 16 stone and loves nothing more than taking on defenders. Certain to add to his five caps in 2022.
Daniel Okeke
Handed the task of playing no 8 in that famous victory at Wasps and impressively passed the test. Celebrated turning 20 on St Stephen's Day and while he may have to bide his time, there's no doubting his talent and athleticism. Made great strides in 2020, with Ireland under-20 selection, and was one of five full debutants for his province in that Champions Cup pool opener.
Gavin Coombes
Has two Ireland caps to his name, but Coombes' hopes of challenging Jack Conan for that Test no 8 spot were spoiled by injury in November. The talented Munster man will be gearing up for a big new year. Andy Farrell would love to have both Coombes and Conan firing heading into the Six Nations championship and in New Zealand for the three-Test summer tour.
Nathan Doak
Surprising that he wasn't brought into the Ireland camp to get acquainted with the surroundings because, if he maintains his rate of progress, the 19-year-old will surely become a Test squad fixture. Ironically his main obstacle to doing so in the near future will be the senior scrum-half at Ulster who has seemingly been discarded by the Ireland management, John Cooney.
Jamie Osborne
Circumstances propelled the 20-year-old who hails from Naas to the front of Leo Cullen's thinking when Covid hit his squad ahead of the Montpellier trip, but unfortunately a European debut at centre was scrubbed when the game was cancelled. Still in the academy, he made his debut for the province last February and has nine senior appearances to his name.
Ciar a n Frawley
The Skerries man is elder statesman of this group - he turned 24 on December 4, a week before Coombes and already has 42 appearances for Leinster to his name, so not a novice by any means. However the versatile back - he can play at out-half and full-back, but Leinster are employing him more as a centre these days - is a player who could make a Test breakthrough in 2022, having been brought into the Ireland camp in November.
Ben Healy
Has talked about getting the 'finishing touches' right to be in a position to graduate to Test rugby and has the window now to work on those elements of his game with Joey Carbery out injured for Munster. Still 22, poised to sign a long-term deal with the Reds in the near future. Has all the tools, it's about putting them all together now.
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
