This is the Ireland team Joe Schmidt should start against Wales

Big calls needed

Patrick McCarry

This is the Ireland team Joe Schmidt should start against Wales

Wales have selected a formidable pack, a familiar midfield duo and a new-look back three. Ireland will give their response on Friday afternoon.

Joe Schmidt is without a host of senior players. Unfortunately, given the retirement of Paul O’Connell, most of the unavailable players are forwards.

That means Schmidt may stick with tried and trusted players – leaving the likes of CJ Stander and Ultan Dillane waiting a while for their first Irish starts.

Schmidt is expected to pitch Nathan White [tighthead], Mike McCarthy [lock], Rhys Ruddock [blindside] and Andrew Trimble [right wing] in from the opening whistle.

However, we feel Schmidt should mix up his XV with a couple of players who are demanding to be included.

FRONT ROW

Jack McGrath would have been our first-choice to start even if Cian Healy was fit. As it is, James Cronin will deputise from the bench. Captain Rory Best as hooker with Sean Cronin his 60-65 minute replacement. Nathan White is the solid option that gets the nod over Tadhg Furlong.

SECOND ROW

Go with the combination you know. Mike McCarthy’s 2015/16 season, if you were to listen to the talk from Irish camp, has been the stuff of lore. Not quite but he is getting back to his 2010-2012 form. He gets the nod over Donnacha Ryan.

BACK ROW

So many options here. Assuming Schmidt will stick with Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip, his big call is at blindside. Rhys Ruddock is another Leinster man being talked up as having a Herculean season despite Leinster’s floundering Champions Cup form. Our shout is CJ Stander. More at home as a No.8 but he can do a fine job anywhere across that back row.

HALF BACKS

Conor and Johnny. Shame Paddy Jackson was hoicked back to Ulster.

MIDFIELD

Did Robbie Henshaw play No.13 for Connacht, last week, because Joe has new plans for the bustling ingénue? We hope so. Stuart McCloskey to provide the line breaks and battering-ram carries. Henshaw to run those smart lines and finally open up.

BACK THREE

Andrew Trimble to slot into the jersey vacated by Tommy Bowe and a ‘we always believed in you’ word of encouragement. Sorry about that whole World Cup thing. It’s all about the aerial bombardment and the kick-chase so Simon Zebo edges out Keith Earls. At the back, time for Jared Payne to show us what he can do.