Andy Farrell is backing 'smart' Mack Hansen to make an impact on his debut on Saturday as the head coach revealed injury cost Keith Earls involvement in the Six Nations opener against Wales.
Farrell also explained how injury issues involving fit-again Robbie Henshaw, Iain Henderson and Robert Balacoune a left them playing catch-up in the selection stakes for the Aviva Stadium clash.
Hansen, 23, has been a revelation for Connacht since joining the province from the Brumbies last summer and that earned him a place in Ireland's November squad.
Farrell is taking a leap of faith by including him ahead of Jordan Larmour and Balacoune, but Earls will need a scan after suffering a hamstring strain yesterday before Ireland left their training camp in Portugal.
“He’s a smart rugby player, he makes things happen, he knows how to get himself involved in the game," said Farrell of Hansen.
"He’s got great feel, he’s got a good skillset across the board.
"It’s tough when you come into international camps but the ones that do best and hit the ground running and end up getting a good few caps straight away are the guys that are able to be able to pick things up straight away and Mack has certainly done that.
“Earlsy isn’t fit for this weekend. He had a hamstring strain yesterday and he is going for a scan today so we will know more about that later on today, but he is out.
"Rob (Balacoune) came in and had a little bit of a niggle of a hamstring, nothing too serious which just set back his preparation towards the end of last week.
"He's fine now, he's trained away with us as well. Mack got the upper hand as far as preparation is concerned, he gets his chance to shine but Rob will play his part in the competition, I'm sure."
Farrell has gone with 13 of the line-up that beat the All Blacks in December. Henshaw, suffered an adductor niggle towards the end of last week and, after a period of rehab, is fully fit again, but that time lost on the training ground has cost him this weekend.
He has lost out in the selection stakes to starting centres Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki - the partnership that started against the All Blacks - while Ulster's in-form centre James Hume is named on the bench.
"Robbie missed a couple of sessions there and that allowed the other three guys to get through his work," said Farrell.
"Rob is fine but the rehab has done him good so Bundee and Ringer get to start.”
Hume has bounced back impressively after admitting he had a tough conversation with Farrell after the November series in terms of what he needed to do to step up to Six Nations level.
“The same as everyone else, I'm very impressed," said the Ireland boss.
"He has certainly buckled down and gone away from the Autumn Series and put his best foot forward to get back into the room for the Six Nations.
"He is the type of guy involved in the Autumn so things are a little fresher for him coming back in so his knowledge about getting back up to speed - for someone who is very young with limited international experience, it has helped him massively in the first 10 days of training.
"Camp was fantastic. We certainly prepared very well and there’s a reason for that - continuity of people available coming into camp and hitting the ground running.
"I'm very happy with the way things have gone so far and building through the rest of the week for Saturday.”
Henderson is another who lost out due to just being fully ready. He suffered an ankle injury in December and hasn't played since, so Ryan Baird provides second row cover for fit-again James Ryan and in-form Tadhg Beirne.
"He (Henderson) is back training fully," said Farrell.
"We are topping him up every day. He is going great guns and he is certainly going to be fit for the start of next week.”
With Johnny Sexton leading the side, Farrell has plumped for Joey Carbery as his back up over Jack Carty, although Carbery hasn't played since early December after elbow surgery.
“Joey knows how we operate because he has been in camp quite a bit through the summer and the autumn," reasoned Farrell.
"Then you look at what you need off the bench and he covers quite a few positions there and that all adds to the picture.
"I know that Joey hasn’t played at all really since the injury but when do you get these people back up to speed. He is fit.
"The pressure that we put on ourselves at training he has excelled at so he is ready to go.”
Wales supremo Wayne Pivac named his side earlier today and the reigning champions will have a new look with so many established Test names missing through injury.
“It’s a good side," remarked Farrell. "You look at the back line and there’s danger all over, isn’t there?
"They talk about the people that they don’t have but the people that have the opportunity this week will add to the depth by performing like they always do when they put the red jersey on.”
Asked about Ireland's status as favourites, Farrell replied: "It's all irrelevant to us.
"Wales are a fantastic side, look at the history, it tells it all. It's all about us, our preparation and our performance.
"We want to keep pushing the boundary as far as that's concerned. That's what we've been concentrating on, let's see if we can perform on Saturday.
The balance is good. Portugal was great because we worked unbelievably hard. It was just us there, it was a great camp.
"The lads gelled but more than anything they were pushing each other hard day in and day out to get ready to get to a point where we know we're going to improve.
"I'm very happy with how things have gone so far, unlucky for Keith Earls that he's not involved.
"Rob Herring had a calf injury as well which set him back a week or two but all in all it was a great camp and a great build up for what's going to be an exciting start."
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