Farrell: Potential is valuable to touring squad but rookies need to hit ground running 

Jimmy O'Brien. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Andy Farrell emphasised the value of having potential in his Ireland squad after selecting five uncapped players for this summer’s tour to New Zealand.

With two matches against the Maori All Blacks on June 29 and July 12 in addition to the eagerly anticipated three-Test series against New Zealand, head coach Farrell plans to make full use of an extended squad of 40 players across the five games and with just 14 months until the 2023 World Cup in France, the uncapped quintet of Ciaran Frawley, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Jimmy O’Brien and Cian Prendergast have been handed golden opportunities to stake their claims.