Selection dilemma for Farrell plus Jimmy O'Brien called up

Ireland welcome Wales to the Aviva Stadium this coming Friday night, with kickoff at 8.10pm.

There are two schools of thought of what kind of team we should see for the game: On one side, people are calling for consistency in selection, saying the majority of the team from last week deserve to get another crack in the jersey.

There is, of course, merit in this argument. Ireland put in an outstanding performances in London to inflict a record-breaking defeat on England.

On the other side are those who think the Wales game is an opportunity to build depth and get more test minutes into those who's caps are still in single digits.

This perspective is also well founded. Ireland are 24-point favourites at time of writing and should have enough to beat Wales even with a score of changes. Additionally, for Ireland to win the championship, they would need to take the maximum ten points from their remaining two games (Wales and Scotland at home) and hope France lose both of their games, away to Scotland and at home to England.

There is also the World Cup looming on the horizon, and the current squad profile is a concerning blend of older players coming to the end of their careers and younger players with very little test experience at the highest level.

Ever the pragmatist, however, Andy Farrell will probably come down somewhere in the middle. He rested Tadhg Beirne, Josh Van Der Flier and Jamieson Gibson-Park when Italy visited Dublin, and I expect the Head Coach to take a similar approach for Wales. 

Scrum half, Gibson-Park is likely to start alongside Jack Crowley once again, but it would come as no surprise to see Van Der Flier and Eadestown man Beirne rested, especially given the strength in depth in Ireland's back row. 

The injury suffered by James Lowe against England should see Tommy O'Brien come in to the starting XV and continue the sensational partnership he formed with Robert Baloucoune. 

Gary Ringrose picked up a knock against Italy and looked to still be carrying it against England. With Ireland short of options at centre, the Wales game could provide an opportunity to give Tom Farrell another cap, although the uncapped Jude Postlethwaite playing alongside his Ulster teammate Stuart McCloskey is the far more exciting option. 

Seventh heaven for Kildare 

Yet another Kildare man has been drafted into the Ireland squad, with Jimmy O’Brien replacing his injured Leinster teammate, James Lowe.

Eadestown man O'Brien is a utility back, covering wing, centre and full back; he has linked up with the Ireland camp this week along with Bundee Aki, who returns from his four-game suspension. He is unlikely to feature against Wales, but Farrell may be tempted to bring Aki into the fold. 

My Predicted team v Wales 

IRELAND: J Osborne; R Baloucoune, J Postelthwaite, S McCloskey, T O’Brien; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; J Loughman, D Sheehan, T Furlong; J Ryan, J McCarthy; C Prendergast, N Timoney, C Doris.

Replacements: T Stewart, T O'Toole, T Clarkson, E Edogbo, J Conan, N Doak, C Frawley, B Aki.