With the Six Nations opener against France set to kick-off in just under two weeks, it's about time we start picking the starting 15 we want to see lining out against Les Blues.
Or, as we've been doing along with the help of Alan Quinlan, picking the 15 players we reckon Joe Schmidt will go with, hence the reason you'll see no mention of certain players (*cough* Simon Zebo *cough*) in the list.
We've been going through a number of positions over the past few weeks, but now it's the turn of the back three, arguably the most fun to pick because not only do we have a bunch of options there, but they're also the players we'll be looking towards for some moments of attacking flair.
Fullback
There's a man plying his trade in Thomond Park, for the next few months at least, who might have been a nailed-on starter here, but as it stands we see Joe Schmidt picking between two Leinster men. Rob Kearney is more than just a safe-pair of hands, with 13 international tries and 78 caps to his name, and he can draw on the experience of numerous titles for both club and country as well as two Lions tours.
The counter argument is that Larmour offers Ireland more in terms of attacking dynamism, having made waves at club level so far this season. Defensively there's questions to be asked about his game at the top level. They very well may be definitively answered by the 20-year-old, but it's tough to see Schmidt giving him the nod for the opener away to France. Italy at home in the second round is where this decision becomes interesting.
Andrew Conway will be in contention too, along with Connacht's Tiernan O'Halloran. The former is more likely to get a spot on the wing, or find a place on the bench covering all three positions due to his versatility. The latter has never really been a first choice option for Ireland and we can't see that changing before the start of the tournament.
Kearney: 8/10
Larmour: 8/10
Conway: 6/10
O'Halloran: 6/10
Left Wing
Andrew Conway finds himself on this list as well, this time as a clear second choice to club teammate Keith Earls. The former Leinster man has been in great form this season, and while his ability to play across the back three means he's almost certain of a utility player spot with the subs, it may also be hindering his chance of a starting place.
Andrew Trimble and Dave Kearney have also made the list here, they've had amazing nights in the Irish jersey over their careers, but we really can't look past the two Munster stars, and particularly Earls.
With 26 international tries to his name, and coming into the campaign off of scintillating form in the Pro14, Earls is the one player we've all but guaranteed a starting berth to regardless of position, and holds the highest power ranking of any player in the back three.
Earls: 9/10
Conway: 7/10
Trimble: 5/10
Kearney: 5/10
Right Wing
Jacob Stockdale leads the race here, and we're all pretty confident he'll be on the opposite wing to Earls. He's another player who lacks international experience despite tearing it up at club level, with the 21-year-old have earned just four caps. On the other hand, he also has four tries under his belt and the step up to the highest standard hasn't seemed to phase him yet.
Fergus McFadden's form in recent weeks has placed him as an option behind the Ulsterman, but despite Schmidt's familiarity with and faith in the Leinster winger, we can't see him usurping the in-form Stockdale. However, McFadden is another who can cover multiple positions, so even though he probably won't start a game over the course of the tournament, we could easily see him secure a spot with the subs.
Adam Byrne and Darren Sweetnam make the list as well, but it'd be a shock to see either in the line-up unless injury strikes. They're two players to keep an eye on, with both having earned their debuts this year, but they'll fall a little shy of contention for a starting slot.
Stockdale: 8/10
McFadden: 6/10
Byrne: 5/10
Sweetnam: 5/10
It's worth noting, as Alan Quinlan drew reference to on the show, Earls could find himself on the right-wing as the left suits Stockdale a little more, and Keith has a lot of experience at 14.
While we're in the middle of pointing things outs, there are four men for each position in those rankings and no overlap on the wings, but realistically we have Conway as the second choice option for both, with Jordan Larmour as a dark horse for a place on the wing as his possible defensive inexperience wouldn't be under so much scrutiny out there.
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