FARRELL FACES INTERESTING CALLS AHEAD OF FARO TRAINING CAMP

ANDY FARRELL will reveal his Six Nations squad today with the group being given plane tickets for warm-weather training in Portugal.

- DEREK FOLEY

Tommy O'Brien will be the big winner as he makes his first championship squad, Harry Byrne will join him on the back of recent exploits while there will be an telling battle for the third scrumhalf position.

But the loosehead injury crisis means Jack Boyle (left) will be the only one travelling who was there in that role last year, leaving scrum coach John Fogarty burning the midnight oil to put another two in place.

And that's not such an easy task considering the first-choice at Ulster is an Australian.

Ireland are expected to roll over the same number as they did ahead of last year's competition, 36 players with four training squad additions.

The Faro get together is preparation for the opening game against France but also seen as a bonding exercise ahead of all five games.