Former Ireland captain Keith Wood believes Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan needs to shake up the team ahead of the upcoming Six Nations Championship. In an interview with BBC sport, for whom he now works as an analyst, Wood pointed out: "We haven't had the strength in depth in Ireland but you'll never really know if the guys are up to it until they get a chance.

"It's a difficult route but you have to give them game time at some stage. What used to annoy me was when we'd play, say, Canada in an autumn international and we'd change 12 guys, which is unfair on those coming in. You want to try to blood them one at a time, with the experienced guys beside them."

Wood doesn't expect O'Sullivan to make swingeing changes but did note the credentials of Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman to push for inclusion. "I remember doing a couple of sessions with him years ago, and I have to say the change in his throwing is startling. He is not as good a thrower as Jerry Flannery, but he has developed a very competent throw.

"He has worked really hard, and he looks fitter than he was - he was a bit heavy before. What he does have over the majority of the Ireland forwards is the ability to take a ball at full speed, which means he is a viable addition, and a valuable one. I would say he would be there or thereabouts."

Wood also advocates changing the backrow of Simon Easterby, David Wallace and Denis Leamy. "I would say our balance has been wrong in the backrow for a while. I think we need an out-and-out seven and eight. At the moment we are playing a mixture of them, and we don't have a huge amount of height.

"At times I would still like to see Alan Quinlan get the nod. He is such a nuisance to play against. He is a tall guy, an excellent lineout forward and he is very aggressive."