Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is looking increasingly likely to leave a number of key players out of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup squad.
Schmidt must submit his final 31-man squad
to World Rugby today, however, he is set to only announce it on Sunday following
Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up game against Wales which takes place on
Saturday.
The biggest name that is to be omitted
according to sources in Ireland is that of Leinster lock Devin Toner. The
67-cap giant of a second-row has been crucial during Schmidt’s tenure and seemed
paramount to the country’s set-pieces against the world’s best teams.
It is thought that Toner may be cited for a
late hit on Wales’ Rob Evans which occurred in the latter stages of Saturday’s
win, which could have a part to play in Schmidt’s thinking.
However, Toner’s absence will allow Schmidt
to select Munster duo Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne, who can cover a number of
positions on the pitch and are seen as better options.
The Leinster man is one of a number of men
that look likely to miss out despite being touted for places on the plane to Japan.
Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion who has
featured in crucial games for Ireland in Connor Murray’s absence, including
during last year’s 16-9 win over the All Blacks, is also set to be staying at
home.
That will allow the Kiwi head coach to
bring Leinster scrum-half Luke McGrath, with Joey Carbery and Garry Ringrose
rumoured to be back-up nines should something go wrong on the injury front.
Ulster pair Jordi Murphy and Will Addison
will remain on Irish shores too while the squad head to Japan. Murphy appears
to be the unlikely one out of a host of back-row options that will miss out, while
Munster’s Chris Farrell will be preferred to Addison.
All of the players will be hugely disappointed
should they miss out, but that is the nature of the game when a country has
such a strong crop to pick from.
