James Ryan will be a huge loss to Ireland if he isn't fit enough to play on Saturday, according to Mick Kearney.
The 27-year-old started on the bench against Scotland last weekend as he continued his recovery from a wrist injury.
He was introduced at the Stade de France only to injure his other wrist shortly afterwards, leaving him as a major doubt ahead of the team announcement later today, after seeing a specialist in Dublin earlier this week.
Former Connacht, Ulster and Leinster forward Kearney played alongside Ryan's rival for the lock position - Iain Henderson - in Belfast.
Speaking on the RTÉ Rugby podcast, Kearney said that a 100% fit Ryan would be the man he'd choose to start against New Zealand this weekend.
"If James Ryan is out, it's a huge, huge loss," Kearney said.
"I know Henderson might have justified his selection, and he could well be starting again this week.
"I played with him up in Ulster, he's a cracking guy, but if I was picking the team I'd have James Ryan starting.
"Leadership is the wrong way to put it, but James is a perennial winner. That's not to say that Henderson isn't, but he's always had good days with Ireland.
"He had that Grand Slam when he was 22 in England (2018). I'd argue that if he hadn't come off in that Champions Cup game against La Rochelle, Leinster probably would have gone on to win it.
"In my mind he was the physical difference there."
Speaking on the same podcast former Munster out-half Jonny Holland suggested that the difference between the two won't be significant, with the ability to spring Ryan off the bench giving Andy Farrell a different dimension to his approach on Saturday.
"Because that selection is so tight, and clearly you can see if there's a different coach you'd go with one player or the other, then that's your bench.
"James Ryan and Iain Henderson are both deserving of their start. If you've to deliver that bad news, as a coach you know you've the other guy coming on - and a little bit angry about it as well.
"Henderson is going to start anyway, he was excellent [against Scotland]."
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