The leaks have been staunched but most people can guess the Ireland XV that will be named this afternoon.
It was unusual to see Ireland squad and team news surfacing so accurately and indisputably in the past few weeks.
The public found out about Joe Schmidt’s 31-man squad almost as quickly as Andrew Trimble, Isaac Boss and Michael Bent. Last Wednesday, a day ahead of the team announcement for Ireland’s World Cup opener, we knew Robbie Henshaw would not be involved.
The leaks caused consternation in the Irish camp but, this week at least, the flow seems to have stemmed.
Most of the reporters following Ireland’s World Cup camp, day-to-day, have given their best guess at Schmidt’s team to face Romania.
Their educated selections are, pretty much, on par with the view of most Irish fans – this will be a shadow side with one or two of Schmidt’s trusted lieutenants lining out at Wembley on Sunday.
Despite the proclamations from team manager Mick Kearney that all 31 players are fit and ready for selection, many of the players that helped dispose of Canada will sit out the fun. Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony took limited parts in training so both could miss out on the matchday 23.
As predicted late last month, Cian Healy should get the loosehead start as he tries to build up match fitness ahead of sterner tests. Richardt Strauss and Nathan White are set to join him in the front row.
Devin Toner has this game to prove to Schmidt he is a viable option to partner Paul O’Connell against Italy. He should be joined by Munster’s Donnacha Ryan.
Jordi Murphy and Chris Henry should be named at blindside and openside while Jamie Heaslip is expected to lace up again. Sean O’Brien would provide versatile support from the bench.
The half-back combination will be Eoin Reddan and Paddy Jackson while Luke Fitzgerald and Tommy Bowe are likely to be named on the wings, with Simon Zebo hoping to get the No.15 jersey. Darren Cave will definitely start in midfield.
That leaves one slot – either for Robbie Henshaw [recovering from a hamstring strain] or Keith Earls [excellent on the left wing last Saturday].
Who will get the No.13 jersey? No-one knows, yet.
It is exactly how Schmidt wants it.
