We picked our 34-man Ireland squad for November’s Nations Championship

A serious set of players!

Prop

Injuries to Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle have opened up a gap in the market for either a new cap or an up-and-comer.

It also means that Porter will more than likely be deployed at loosehead, after being trialled at tighthead in Leinster's opening URC of the season.

Billy Bohan has the advantage, having debuted for Ireland this summer, but the older Alex Usanov has made a quick start to the season at Leinster: solidifying their scrum and showing up well in the loose.

Munster's Michael Milne and Jeremy Loughman, however, will also have eyes on the prize.

The most impressive Irish player thus far this season has been Englishman Kieran Brookes, who, at 36 years of age, has catapulted himself back into international contention, after showcasing his elite scrummaging ability in his first few games with Munster.

Squad selection:

Andrew Porter, Tom O'Toole, Alex Usanov, Tadhg Furlong, Kieran Brookes, Tom Clarkson.

Hooker

We'll keep this one short and sweet.

Dan Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher will continue their reign as Ireland's 2 and 16, with Tom Stewart as third choice.

Gus McCarthy is also in with a decent chance of making the squad.

Squad selection:

Dan Sheehan, Rónan Kelleher, Tom Stewart.

Second row

The most punishing injury to Ireland currently is Edwin Edogbo's.

With the national team in desperate need of more tighthead locks and all-round bruisers, the fact that he hasn't played yet this season does not bode well.

Thankfully, the 'big three' are fit and firing, while Connacht's Darragh Murray deserves to slot in beside them after consistently impressing in green.

Squad selection:

Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Darragh Murray/Edwin Edogbo.

Back row

Jack Conan's injury, and assumed absence from the squad announcement, has thrown the backrow selection completely up in the air.

With Caelan Doris also unavailable, we are more than likely to see Connacht's Sean Jansen slot in, following an impressive summer tour with Ireland.

Cian Prendergast may go as an 8, which would free up room at blindside for, but Brian Gleeson's showing on the weekend has put him right back in the mix of things.

James McNabney, Cormac Izuchukwu and Tom Ahern will all have ambitions to make the squad as well.

Squad selection:

Ryan Baird, James McNabney, Josh van der Flier, Nick Timoney, Sean Jansen, Brian Gleeson.

Scrum-half

Despite his below-average form in green, Craig Casey has not done enough just yet to deserve getting the drop.

However, the selection of Ireland's third-choice provides a canvas for debate and discussion.

Nathan Doak is still the frontrunner, having been capped by Ireland twice last year.

On the flip side, his Ulster teammate, Matthew Devine, has taken his Connacht form up north, and was the better of the two in last weekend's comeback draw against Munster.

Fintan Gunne has also taken his game to a new level, while Ben O'Donovan and Ben Murphy would not look out of place either.

Squad selection:

Jamison Gibson-Park, Craig Casey, Matthew Devine.

Out-half:

The hole left by Jack Crowley's absence will hopefully be reduced by the early-season form shown by Sam Prendergast and Ciarán Frawley.

This leaves us with a fascinating situation for the final spot.

Harry Byrne would normally have been the default selection, but dodgy form and a concussion have lost him serious ground, while the vastly inexperienced Caspar Gabriel got the nod ahead of him in preseason and in Leinster's URC opener against the Lions.

It also leaves the door open for the equally inexperienced man-of-the-moment Charlie O'Shea.

Jack Murphy has the Ireland A experience, but hasn't shown enough to be a certainty for third-choice, while his ceiling isn't as high as Gabriel's or O'Shea's.

Coming into the season, it was hoped that new signing Jamie Benson would be a serious option, but he has been selected at centre in Ulster's opening three URC games.

Joey Carbery could well be picked, but he has yet to play on his return to Leinster.

Squad selection:

Sam Prendergast, Ciarán Frawley, Caspar Gabriel.

Centre

It looks like it may finally be time for one of Bundee Aki or Robbie Henshaw to miss out on Ireland selection while fit.

Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey remain Ireland's starters, and with Mack Hansen fit and ready to step into fullback, if needed, Farrell might be ready to accept the reality of Jamie Osborne as a midfielder.

Squad selection:

Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Bundee Aki, Jamie Osborne.

Back three

Ireland have a full deck to choose from out wide and in the backfield.

Good wingers will miss out, but we feel it is time to unleash Zac Ward at senior international level, so we don't die wondering at next year's World Cup.

Mack Hansen, Osborne and Frawley also provide enough cover at fullback for Hugo Keenan.

Squad selection:

Mack Hansen, Robert Baloucoune, Tommy O'Brien, Zac Ward, Hugo Keenan.