The uncapped players are Leinster tyros Cian Healy, Devin Toner, Jonathan Sexton and Fergus McFadden and Connacht front rowers Brett Wilkinson and Sean Cronin.

“We set out to maintain the building process of a panel based on the summer tours as well as that already knew about the players,” said Kidney.

“The next time we meet as a squad will be November, so hopefully the players can produce good form so that the foundations laid now will benefit us at that point.”