Andy Farrell repeats Ireland depth concerns but backs new boy to shine on Test debut

Andy Farrell is excited to see how Thomas Clarkson performs on his Test debut as injuries have pushed him to the fore earlier than expected.

Clarkson, 24, is part of Farrell's five-man training panel that he named alongside his Autumn Series panel, but Tadhg Furlong is not yet ready to return from injury and Tom O'Toole misses out after picking up a head injury last Friday.

So the Leinster tighthead gets an opportunity and the chance to bolster Ireland's front row options, which have not been overly stocked and are over-dependent on the frontliners.

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Farrell acknowledges it is an area that must be strengthened. "You know, you think you’re going OK in regards to most positions," he said. "Hooker would be a position where we thought we had a bit of strength, but like tighthead or loosehead, you’re one or two injuries down and you’re having a look at the depth chart.

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“So, it’s perfect for Tom because he gets to test himself. The reason why we took him and Jack Boyle as well is because of the game time and the improvement that we’ve seen within that game time this year.

"Every time we take development players away we judge them on the here and now, and hope that we can fast track them as soon as we possibly can.

Head coach Andy Farrell
(Image: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)

“Now obviously there are a few injuries that happened but we’ve been really impressed, really impressed, with his form and how he’s trained as well. We’ve had him before on the Emerging Tour and it’s come at the right time for him and for us, I would have thought.”

Clarkson and Boyle are typical of a younger generation of players at the provinces who have to live off scraps in terms of appearances. "That's why we've got to try and find a way of giving them an opportunity to be tested, hence Emerging Ireland and stuff in between," said Farrell.

"One of things now that stops a little bit of continuity...back in the day - it's not too long ago now - when the League carried on playing through competitions, Six Nations etc.

"You used to see 22, 23-year-olds getting fantastic game time and the conveyor belt kept on coming because of that. That doesn't happen anymore in the competition so we've got to keep finding a way to get these players through."

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