Joe Schmidt covered all the bases with his preliminary Six Nations squad selection this afternoon, naming 44 players in the senior squad nearly three weeks ahead of the opening fixture against Scotland in Dublin on February 2nd.

The New Zealander has been forced to plan without influential flanker Seán O’Brien, who is out for four months or more with a shoulder injury, so it’s no surprise to see the likes of Munster’s Tommy O’Donnell, Ulster’s Chris Henry, Leinster’s Jordi Murphy all included, as well as Cardiff Blues backrow Robin Copeland, who will join Munster next season.

Connacht’s New Zealand-born prop Rodney Ah You (25), who qualified for Ireland in October last year, having joined the province in October 2010, is also included.

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There are seven uncapped players in total.

There are no places for the short-term injured such as Richardt Strauss, Donnacha Ryan, Roger Wilson, Tommy Bowe, Simon Zebo, Declan Fitzpatrick and Craig Gilroy, though, unlike O’Brien none have been ruled out of the tournament.

Fergus McFadden’s inclusion, therefore, is timely, in the absence of Bowe andZebo, and signals his recovery from a broken bone in his hand. His presence means there are five wingers among the 44.

“As always a number of the selections were very tight,” said Schmidt in an IRFU statement. “Following on from the Guinness Series, there is an experienced core of players in the squad who will offer continuity, as well as some new additions who have been selected with an eye to the future.

“With Robin Copeland returning to play in Ireland next season it will be an opportunity for him to impress during the training week, while some of the younger or less experienced players such as Rob Herring, Iain Henderson, Rhys Ruddock, Kieran Marmion and Felix Jones have turned in some very positive performances to earn spots in the squad.”

Herring is one of four hookers, with Ah You among seven props, alongside the uncapped Leinster tighthead Martin Moore.

Ryan’s absence leaves Mike McCarthy, Devin Toner (both Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster) and captain Paul O’Connell (Munster) as the four secondrow options, while there are nine viables for the three backrow positions - on the blindside Iain Henderson (Ulster), Robbie Diack (Ulster)*, Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster); on the openside Ulster’s Henry, Leinster’s Murphy and Munster’s O’Donnell, with Copeland and vice-captain Jamie Heaslip (Leinster) at number eight.

The four scrumhalf options are the uncapped Kieran Marmion of Connacht and the more familiar Leinster pair of Eoin Reddan and Isaac Boss, as well as the likeliest starter against Scotland Conor Murray (Munster).

Outside them the options at 10 is the sure-fire starter Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), the two pretenders Paddy Jackson (Ulster) and Ian Madigan (Leinster) and the ever-improving Ian Keatley (Munster).

The options at centre include the two usual suspects (Brian O’Driscoll an Gordon D’Arcy), along with Darren Cave and Luke Marshall (both Ulster) and Connacht’s exciting young prospect Robbie Henshaw, also an option at fullback, where incumbent Rob Kearney has more direct competition from Munster’s Felix Jones.

On the wings, McFadden is complemented by Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster) and David Kearney (Leinster).

All will be a little clearer on Thursday week when the 23-man Wolfhounds squad to face England Saxons on January 25th is due to be named. After that game, a squad of around 32 will be decided upon.

For now, those named will assemble at the Carton House training camp this Sunday, after the conclusion of the Heineken Cup pool stages.

Preliminary Ireland Six Nations squad (44)

Forwards (24)

Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht)*

Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)*

Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster)*

Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)

Rob Herring (Ballinahinch/Ulster)*

David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Mike McCarthy (Leinster)

Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)*

Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)*

Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster)

Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)

Damian Varley (Garryowen/Munster)

Backs (20)

Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)

Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)

Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)

Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)

Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)*

Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)

Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)

Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)

Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

*Denotes uncapped player