'Impressive' Loughman has 'all the attributes' to succeed at Test level, insists Farrell

Jeremy Loughman has impressed the coaches during Ireland's training camp in Portugal and has been rewarded with a place in the starting lineup against France. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Andy Farrell believes stand-in loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman has “all the attributes” to excel in Test rugby after backing the Munster front-rower to take on France in the absence of a trio of injured alternatives.

The loss of three looseheads in advance of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations would give concern to any Test side but the task has fallen to the 30-year-old, whose most recent of five caps came off the bench against Italy two years ago.