Schmidt nudges Chris Farrell onto centre stage

Joe Schmidt has praised Chris Farrell’s all-round game and form in confirming the Munster centre is at the head of the queue to replace Robbie Henshaw in Ireland’s midfield to face Wales in Dublin on February 24.

Henshaw has been ruled out of the remaining three games of the NatWest Six Nations Championship after injuring his right shoulder as he scored his second try of last Saturday’s big win over Italy at Aviva Stadium.

With Jared Payne out of action since last summer’s British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand when he experienced a series of migraines and Garry Ringrose only set to return to Leinster duty in the next fortnight, Farrell appears best placed to fill the vacuum at outside centre, reforming a midfield partnership with Bundee Aki which was first forged last November when the pair started against Argentina.