FARRELL’S SHAKING IT UP AS THE AXE FALLS

O’mahony included, 95-times capped Kearney could be the first big cut from the new regime’s plans after 12 years in the green shirt.

Jordan Larmour has got the nod ahead of the 33-year-old at full-back in the last couple of Champions Cup fixtures for Leinster and has excelled in that role.

Jacob Stockdale has also worn the No.15 shirt with distinction at Ulster recently and Farrell could be looking to make a clean break in that position, with Munster’s Mike Haley and another Ulster player, Will Addison, all included.

While locks Devin Toner, Quinn Roux and Ultan Dillane are back in the fold after missing out on the World Cup, there is no place for Jack Carty who started against Japan at the finals - or for Sean Cronin, John Ryan and Jordi Murphy, who also played in the Far East.

Connacht’s Kieran Marmion is excluded, after missing out on the finals. But Farrell has included Jamison Gibson-park after the

Leinster player became Irish eligible last summer.

Ulster’s Billy Burns and Tom O’toole as well as the injured Ronan Kelleher and Will Connors, Max Deegan and Caelan Doris of Leinster are also new faces included for the run-out at the IRFU’S new High Performance Centre.

Farrell (above) commented: “The national coaches have been around the provinces watching games and having good conversations with players and the provincial coaches.

“We have limited opportunities across the busy provincial season to bring a broad group like this together but this 24-hour window will allow us to plant a few seeds.

“It will also give the coaches a better insight into a few players who been performing consistently well for their provinces.

“The next six weeks is the window for players to put their hands up for selection for our first squad to be named late January.”