Decisions, decisions!
The most talked about position for Ireland has been the No 10 position, given the ongoing battle for the jersey between Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast.
But after his showing in the Munster – Leinster derby, Crowley seems to have that position locked up.
Elsewhere, there are other dilemmas for Andy Farrell and Co to mull over; important calls that could have a big bearing on the outcome of what should be a tight test match in Chicago this Saturday.
Blindside flanker
With Peter O’Mahony retired after being a constant in the Ireland squad since making his debut in 2012, the landscape in the backrow certainly looks barer.
But there are still close calls for the Irish management team.
Had Joe McCarthy been fit, putting Tadhg Beirne at six would have been a much more realistic option, but he will likely start at lock alongside James Ryan.
Caelan Doris is said to be winning his fitness battle, which leaves blindside looking like a shootout between Ryan Baird and Jack Conan.
The younger Baird finished last season in superb form with Leinster, and, as a better set-piece option, is more in line with Farrell’s selection tendencies.
Conan is the better, more experienced option, but has been excellent off the bench throughout his Ireland career, and has not played since the summer’s Lions tour, while Baird has put in three 80-minute shifts this season.
Tom Ahern is an outside bet for the 23.
Inside centre
This would have been a more exciting selection debate had Hugo Keenan’s injury not made it overwhelmingly likely that Jamie Osborne will start at 15.
However, there are still three men vying for the position, each with a similar chance of getting the nod.
Bundee Aki will be favourite to start, but his best performances over the past year have come off the bench, with his game-changing showing against Wales in the Six Nations a particular highlight.
Form-wise, Stuart McCloskey seems like the right call, with Robbie Henshaw’s waning impact over the last year a serious concern.
The Ulster centre’s offloading and carrying would offer a fresh dynamic to the Irish backline and a different picture to the one the All Blacks have faced when playing Ireland.
Loosehead
Andrew Porter has the starting jersey in the bag, but Paddy McCarthy’s swift rise this season puts the No 17 jersey into question.
McCarthy has three starts already this season, putting in a strong shift in Leinster’s win over the Sharks, before winning his battle with Jack Boyle for a start against Munster.
Although McCarthy is the only uncapped player in the squad, given Boyle’s lack of experience at international level, the risk would not be so great, despite the level of opposition.
