Andy Farrell has rejigged his Ireland squad for the November 1 international versus the All Blacks in Chicago following a wounding weekend of United Rugby Championship action.
The series-winning 2025 British and Irish Lions head coach last week named a 34-man squad for the November internationals, a four-match campaign that starts in the USA versus New Zealand before three games in Dublin against Japan, Australia and South Africa.
Farrell’s original squad contained 21 players from Leinster, five from Connacht, four from Munster and four from Ulster.
Three other players – Munster duo Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson, and Connacht’s Shayne Bolton – were also named as cover to travel to America for the All Blacks game, making it an overall Ireland player travelling contingent of 37.
Farrell, though, will now fly to Chicago on Tuesday with just 36 – a squad of 35 (now consisting of 22 Leinster, five Munster, four Connacht and four Ulster) and one cover player (Connacht) – following an attritional weekend on the provincial front.
“Continue to be assessed…”
Mack Hansen has been ruled out with the foot injury he sustained when scoring for Connacht against the Bulls, while respective hip and groin issues are affecting Connacht’s Bundee Aki and Leinster’s Robbie Henshaw. They will both travel to the USA, but their availability will continue to be assessed, according to an IRFU statement.
This situation has resulted in head coach Farrell calling up Tom Farrell, the uncapped midfielder from Munster, and Jimmy O’Brien of Leinster to the official squad that now only has one cover player – Bolton – as the Munster duo Edogbo and Gleeson have been ruled out with respective concussion and elbow injuries.
The IRFU statement read: “Munster’s uncapped centre Tom Farrell and Leinster’s Jimmy O’Brien have been added to the Ireland squad ahead of the Gallagher Cup match against New Zealand and for the Quilter Nations Series.
“Bundee Aki (hip) and Robbie Henshaw (groin) will continue to be assessed and will travel with the squad on Tuesday. Mack Hansen suffered an aggravation of a foot injury in the closing stages of Connacht’s game against the Bulls and has been ruled out.
“Munster duo Edwin Edogdo (concussion) and Brian Gleeson (elbow), who had been due to travel with the squad to Chicago, have also been ruled out. There are no further additions to the squad.”
This belated inclusion of midfielder Farrell might now dilute the heavy criticism head coach Farrell has faced in the wake of Munster’s convincing 31-14 dismissal of Leinster. Farrell scored a superb first-half try and would have had a second but for four play resulting in the referee instead awarding a penalty try and a yellow card against Leinster.
Coach Farrell was heavily criticised for the Leinster dominance in his squad, a debate fired up by Munster leading the way in the URC with four wins and Leinster adrift in 12th place with one win. It resulted in the head coach being accused of picking his Ireland squad on reputation and not form, especially in the instance of the Munster midfielder who was overlooked until Monday’s squad update.
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There was no specific update given in the IRFU statement about the health of No.8 Jack Conan and winger Tommy O’Brien, who both pulled out pre-game before Leinster’s loss to Munster, and Paddy McCarthy, who lasted just 17 minutes of that match due to a head knock.
Leinster boss Leo Cullen said post-game on Saturday night: “Tommy, it’s more from his back. He and Jordan (Larmour) swapped in (and out) a lot during the week because Tommy had flagged that [back issue] on the Monday.
“We thought he was going to train on the Tuesday. On Thursday, we made the decision, but he’s okay. Jack twisted his knee, but I don’t think it’s anything too serious. He should be okay.”
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