From the outside, looking in, that selection picture looks clearer.
With five dropping out, Tom Stewart coming back in, Jeremy Loughman called in as loosehead cover and Diarmuid Barron flown over to Bayonne, we put the current Ireland World Cup training squad at 40. Jacob Stockdale and Ciarán Frawley missing out on Samoa selection hints that we could be back to 38.
Andy Farrell will name his 33-man World Cup squad on Monday (August 28). While many fans and pundits debate the final calls, and there are injury concerns hazing the picture, Farrell knows what he wants from that final squad announcement.
Asked if he is going back and forth - as much as the rest of us - on 19/14 [forward to backs] splits, or 18/15 - Farrell replied, "Not at all.
"We're pretty clear on that. Having said that, there's a few more days left for moving parts, etcetera. So we'll adapt to that but we've been pretty clear from the start about what we want. It's all different personal and different teams. You've got to do what's right to fit your group."
Farrell also looks to be getting to a clearer idea of what backs he wants to travel back to France for the World Cup. Stockdale and Frawley look to have missed out, going off the warm-up team selections.
[caption id="attachment_291212" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Jacob Stockdale of Ireland during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match against Italy, at the Aviva Stadium. (Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)[/caption]
Jacob Stockdale long-shot now unlikely
Jacob Stockdale had a decent outing in the opening warm-up win over Italy but did allow a soft try in the second half.
Asked about the winger, after that game, Farrell said, "A lot of good, and some bits he'd hope to tidy up... it would have been a big day for Jacob and he'll be the better for it."
Hardly glowing, but Farrell had a point. Stockdale has so often been electric in attack but there to be got at in defence. Asked if missing out on the Samoa match-day 23 meant the end of the road for Samoa, Farrell replied:
"Well, we haven't selected the squad yet? Everyone is still in the mix. There's a good few days to go, in that regard."
Asked where his team sat, heading into their final warm-up game, Farrell commented, "I think we got better, certainly in the second game. Second some fantastic tries.
"[It's] consistency, isn't it? That's why we play the warm-up games and get some of the rust out and show pictures to one another about what's acceptable and what's not. We're here to take a step forward in our development as a team."
BRIAN O'DRISCOLL ON FIRST CALL-UPS AND CAREER HIGHS:
Jacob Stockdale of Ireland during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match against Italy, at the Aviva Stadium. (Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)[/caption]
