Schmidt considering his options

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While Furlong is a certainty to start in the number three jersey, there is certainly interest in Joe Schmidt’s team to be announced this lunchtime.

The returns to fitness of Rob Kearney and Garry Ringrose give the coach food for thought. Kearney, so trusted by Schmidt and one of the heroes of Chicago, seems certain to come in for Jordan Larmour who, after dazzling against the Italians, had a more difficult day a week ago.

Ringrose it would appear is in a straight battle with Ulster’s Will Addison. The former Sale man drew praise from defence coach Andy Farrell this week for how he handled getting his first Test start with some 20 minutes notice when Robbie Henshaw pulled out of the Argentina game during the warm-up. Ringrose has plenty of big game experience on this stage though.

One more consideration will likely be in the second-row, with Ireland’s line-out an area of concern last time out. Argentina deployed three locks in their pack, with one sent out as a flanker, and caused a fair amount of havoc at the set-piece.

The Kiwis were similarly effective against England, especially after Scott Barrett was called from the bench. This has led for increased calls to return Devin Toner to the Irish engine room, although in last week’s man-ofthe-match James Ryan, Munster’s Tadhg Beirne and Ulster’s Iain Henderson there is certainly competition.

The broken arm sustained by Sean O’Brien last week leaves him out for the foreseeable future but in Dan Leavy there is a readymade replacement.

The Leinsterman excelled when injury ruled Josh van der Flier out, while he made a huge impact coming off the bench against the Pumas.

Leavy’s spot on the bench could, in turn, go to one of Schmidt’s surplus second-rows — both Beirne and Henderson can play as a loose