Simon Easterby clears the air on Wales links as Ireland interim head coach insists ‘all guns blazing’ for Six Nations

SIMON EASTERBY has addressed recent speculation linking him with the Wales head coach gig.

The Ireland interim boss has reportedly attracted interest from the Dragons following Warren Gatland‘s sudden exit.

Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt has succeeded Gatland on a temporary basis and will be in charge for the visit of the reigning champions on Saturday.

And speaking about being linked with the post on a permanent deal, Easterby insisted his focus was on the Six Nations, without explicitly ruling himself out.

The 49-year-old said: “”I didn’t really know I had been linked.

“No, of course there’s been speculation and that’s what it is, speculation. I’m not in control of that.

“I love what I do here.

“I’ve been int his position with the team for a long time and I’m very fortunate with the people I get to work with, both management and players, and for me it’s a dream job.

“Speculation is exactly that, it’s speculation, and not something that I can control.

“Right now this is my only focus.

“In a year’s time, you could lose your job and we know in sport it’s fairly fluid around people moving from thing to thing.

“But, like I said, whatever is going on I’ve had no contact with the WRU.

“For me, it’s all guns blazing towards Cardiff on Saturday and make sure that me and the other coaches prepare the team, and whatever speculation goes on outside of that is outside my control.”

Easterby named his team for the trip to Wales on Thursday after being handed a mini-injury crisis in the build-up.

Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, and Ronan Kelleher were all ruled out of the game through injury.

In response, Easterby has named Dan Sheehan as captain for the first time, with the Leinster hooker having come off the bench in the wins over England and Scotland.

He is joined in the front row by Thomas Clarkson – making his first start for the national team – and Andrew Porter.

Joe McCarthy makes his return from injury to partner Tadhg Beirne, while Peter O’Mahony joins Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan, the latter of whom comes into the starting line-up.

Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast retain their places in the starting XV at scrum-half and out-half, respectively.

Jamie Osborne will make his Six Nations debut at full-back, with James Lowe and the returning Mack Hansen lining up on the wings.

Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose are the midfield pairing, with Bundee Aki dropping to the bench.

Speaking of the bench, Jack Boyle is in line to make his Ireland debut, while Gus McCarthy and Cian Prendergast could make their Six Nations bows.