Easterby: 6/2 split allows us to pick multi-faceted players like Ringrose who can play centre or wing

WING START: Garry Ringrose has been training at right wing for Ireland. Pic: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Ireland will keep gambling on the make-up of their bench despite having their decision to pick just two replacement backs backfiring against England.

Andy Farrell has composed his bench of six forwards and two backs for the first time in his tenure as Ireland head coaching in the current Guinness Six Nations campaign, against France, Wales and England. He has readily acknowledged throughout that choosing not to field three backs and provide suitable cover across the backline had its risks but they were worth forsaking, if the factors aligned, for the deployment of an extra forward and the additional power that brings.