Ireland and Leinster player Fergus McFadden was on the Energia Tag Rugby Saturday Panel and spoke about Ireland’s options at 15 for the World Cup.
Joey Carbery’s injury has left Joe Schmidt’s side looking a little light in the fullback department with the Munster playmaker slotting in at 15 plenty of times before.
Robbie Henshaw is a potential option as the Leinster centre started for Ireland at 15 for the opening Six Nations match against England earlier this year.
While that experiment didn’t exactly go to plan with Ireland losing by 12 points, McFadden still reckons that Henshaw could fill in at fullback at the World Cup if he needed to.
“Honestly, Robbie [Henshaw] could play 12 right out to 15. He’s such a good footballer. I felt for him that day.
“When you got Robbie to come in, playing his first game at fullback since Connacht in I don’t know how many years ago. It was a huge ask,” McFadden commented.
While McFadden wasn’t suggesting that the Athlone native should be starting at fullback in another game of the same calibre as England, he was more than confident he could fill in for some of the pool games.
“The amount of scrutiny he was put under after that was very harsh, but to think he wouldn’t be able to do a job in one of those lesser games in the group stages, the likes of Samoa.
“Put him there if there were a couple of injuries and see how he went. It could be a good thing to check out,” McFadden said.
The 34-times-capped Ireland international felt that Jordan Larmour is still Rob Kearney's back up, despite featuring predominantly on the wing for Leinster and Ireland in recent times.
“I think the performances he’s put in for Leinster last year were outstanding again after a brilliant first season. He’s a very exciting option to have there again and a great one.
“I think Jordan [larmour] will get an opportunity in one of these next couple of Wales games and he could put his hand up for selection."
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