Following the retirement of Johnny Sexton and a glut of high profile injuries, RTÉ rugby analyst Bernard Jackman admitted to some "worry" about Ireland's prospects ahead of what could be a transitional Six Nations campaign.
Ireland received a double blow on Monday, with the news that wing Mack Hansen would miss their title defence being swiftly followed by confirmation that his likeliest replacement, Jimmy O'Brien, was also ruled out.
While there is better news looming on the horizon with Peter O'Mahony and James Lowe reportedly returning to fitness, neither has seen much action in the 2023/24 season.
The defending champions - who secured their fourth ever Grand Slam and a third in the past 15 years in 2023 - begin away to France in the unusual surrounds of Marseille on 2 February [Stade de France being unavailable due to preparation for Olympics].
Though the French themselves are without superstar Antoine Dupont due to sevens commitments, Jackman suggests Ireland's squad is even more stretched at the minute.
"Is it just me or is it a little bit worrying our squad?" Jackman wondered aloud on the RTÉ Rugby podcast. "When I look at what France are going to be able to put in...
"When I look at Peter (O'Mahony) being injured, Conor (Murray) hasn't played a huge amount, Porter has played a lot, Tadhg (Furlong) hasn't played much, Mack's injury (Hansen), Jimmy's injury (O'Brien), James Lowe having not played, obviously replacing Johnny (Sexton)...
"I'm a little bit worried going into this. But we will have good consistency, we've got good coaches. I'm looking forward to seeing the squad and seeing what talent Farrell has seen that has caught his eye and will be part of this rebuild."
While the Six Nations immediately following a World Cup is usually treated as an opportunity to launch a new cluster of players, Jackman hasn't been overawed by the quality of the emerging crop.
"What players who aren't first choice for Ireland have been absolutely pulling up trees for the provinces?
"Usually there's a big push for someone who's come from outside the squad where his form warrants hype or expectation or inclusion. I'm struggling to think of (an example).
"Who has put their hand up?
"Joe McCarthy is probably the one. And Tom Ahern. They're the two fellas. I expect them to be in (the squad).
"But will Tom Ahern start ahead of Doris, O'Mahony - if he's fit - Josh van der Flier or Conan? I'm not sure he will straight away.
"Will Joe McCarthy start ahead of Henderson or Ryan? I think he'll be in the 23 anyway.
"Bar him and Tom Ahern, there hasn't been anybody that has really blown me away. Jack Crowley has been very steady and he's proven that he's the guy who'll start at 10.
"Maybe I'm being harsh. But I've been at a lot of games. I just haven't hopped in my car and gone up the road thinking 'wow, I can't wait to see him in green in the Six Nations.'"
Also speaking on the podcast, former Munster centre Johne Murphy is more sanguine, arguing the spine of the team - at back-row, scrum-half and full-back - is still in place. However, given the injuries and the awkward 'even-year' home and away fixture schedule, he suspects a back-to-back Grand Slam may be beyond Ireland.
"From a squad perspective, there's been retirements and injuries at the moment. But within that, there's still good rugby players that are going to get an opportunity to play.
"The spine of the team is still world class and would contain a lot of the guys that got us to No. 1. I wouldn't be as confident as we would have been in previous years.
"But, three home games, two difficult away games... I'm not sure about a Grand Slam, I'd still be very (hopeful) that they'd be going into the last weekend with a chance of winning it."
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