After it was confirmed that Devin Toner has not been selected for Ireland's Rugby World Cup squad, Alan Quinlan shared his surprise at Joe Schmidt's decision.
Almost one-week ahead of schedule, it has been confirmed that Joe Schmidt will be leaving Leinster's Devin Toner at home for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan.
One of Schmidt's regular starters in the four-year cycle building up to the tournament, it was a decision that Alan Quinlan did not see coming.
"It's a huge call," he explained to Off the Ball, "I'm shocked and surprised by it.
"It's a hard one to digest this quickly, to be honest.
"I'd said after the English game that we needed to see some big calls, but I didn't see this one coming."
Although a degree of pride was restored with Ireland's defeat of Wales in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon, last weekend's hammering at the hands of England raised questions about Ireland's forwards.
However, it had not occurred to Quinlan that Devin Toner would be the victim of a shake-up by Joe Schmidt.
"Given what happened in the lineout against England and the malfunction there," he recalled, "it is a big call.
"It's a decision they've clearly not based only on lineout ability but general play and impact around the field.
"I think the problem for Devin, and he has been a fantastic player and delivered so well for Ireland, is whether he is a starter?
"If he's not a starter, is he an impact player? I think your starters are Iain Henderson and James Ryan and when they're on song they're up in that best in the world category.
"Is Devin someone you bring off the bench? If the lineout is in big trouble, for sure, but there's probably more elements at play then that."
With this in mind, the apparent swap of Jean Kleyn for Devin Toner takes on a degree of sense for Quinlan.
However, having made his Irish debut against Italy last month, the Munster man's inclusion is bound to come under scrutiny.
"Being born in South Africa, and becoming Irish this summer," reasoned Quinlan, "he's going to be on the plane and there'll be debates about that."
Nevertheless, while Alan Quinlan appreciates the logic that has informed Joe Schmidt's decision, Toner's omission will leave the likes of Henderson, Ryan and Kleyn with the weighty responsibility of organising and optimising Ireland's lineouts.
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