Joe Schmidt to reveal Irish squad today

Simon Zebo’s decision to leave Ireland and join Racing 92 in France next season presents Joe Schmidt with an interesting decision ahead of today’s expected squad announcement for next month’s autumn Tests against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina.

Ireland head coach Schmidt and IRFU performance director David Nucifora have repeatedly stated that players who earn their keep under the governing body’s welfare programme at one of the four provinces will be favoured for national team selection over those who choose to play overseas.

Zebo, 27, will be on the outside looking in from next summer, apparently prepared to put his Test career on hold during his Top14 adventure and potentially sacrificing a place in Ireland’s 2019 World Cup squad. Yet his immediate future in green is intriguing. Does Schmidt make the most of the Munster full-back/wing’s considerable talents while he has them at his disposal, or does he pull the plug now and start planning without him?