Robbie Henshaw doesn't believe there will be a fall-off when Simon Easterby takes over from Andy Farrell for the Guinness Six Nations.
The former dual-code international, who has been head coach of Ireland since 2020 and led the team to back-to-back Six Nations titles, is on British and Irish Lions duty ahead of the summer tour to Australia.
Easterby, a former Ireland and Lions back row, has been in the international set-up since 2014 as a forwards and defence coach, and twice taken Emerging Ireland on tour to South Africa.
The 49-year-old had a spell as head coach of Scarlets between 2012 and 2014 and is seen as a steady hand while Farrell, the 2023 World Rugby coach of the year, is away.
Leinster centre Henshaw says Farrell’s absence won’t lead to a drop off as Ireland bid for an unprecedent Six Nations three-in-a-row.
"We really respect him as a coach, he’s done unbelievable things for our defence and for the forwards when he was there," Henshaw, who was named in the squad this afternoon, told RTÉ Sport.
"It’s exciting because he’s been there for a long time and he knows the group really well. And there’s that continuity, he’s been there with Andy before.
"It’s hugely exciting and it’s exciting for Simon as well. He takes a good few of our meetings. He’s been a big voice within the team.
"It’s great that there’s a bit of continuity".
The defending champions begin their campaign at home to England, who are the only side to have beaten Ireland in the last two Six Nations, on 1 February.
The last time the Red Roses came to Dublin on opening day, in 2019, marked the beginning of the end for then-head coach Joe Schmidt’s team.
Having just beaten New Zealand at home for the first time, and secured a Grand Slam the previous year, a fancied Ireland fell to a 32-20 defeat in Dublin, before further disheartening losses to Wales, Japan and New Zealand.
Henshaw, who helped Leinster to a 16-14 Champions Cup win over La Rochelle on Sunday, was picked at full-back that day at Aviva Stadium, an experiment that didn’t work out.
"I remember it was a tough game. It was tough European fixtures we had before that and they came all guns blazing as we expected so I think same again," added Henshaw, an Aer Lingus ambassador.
"We know what they’re going to bring – physicality, intensity, a proper Test match – so, for us, I think when we get together next week we have to hit the ground running in terms of our preparation and make sure we switch into Irish mode as quickly as possible.
"I know the coaches will be all over that for us. We are expecting a proper battle as you always expect from England in this competition."
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