Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby said Tuesday the challenge for him and his players in their bid to become the first side to win three successive Six Nations titles is to "stay ahead of the pack".

Ireland interim coach Simon Easterby is ready to use his years of experience working with the side to take the country to a third successive Six Nations Championship success, and knows the team will need to improve to stay on top.

Simon Easterby stuck with the tried and tested in his first squad as interim coach of two-time defending Six Nations champions Ireland on Wednesday, naming just one uncapped player in a 36-man roster.

Easterby and Caelan Doris flew from Rome to Lisbon after the Six Nations launch, from where they drove to Quinta do Lago. As in November, Johnny Sexton will again be in and out of the squad, pending work commitments, in his background role as a mentor to the Irish outhalves.

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby says that his team are more motivated by improving, rather than worrying about the strength of the chasing pack as they seek another successful Six Nations championship.