Andy Farrell is backing Ciarán Frawley to go out and "prove a point", when he makes his first Test start in Ireland's Guinness Six Nations meeting with Wales on Saturday (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
After two appearances off the bench for Ireland in the last six months, Frawley will get a long-awaited first Ireland start, as he comes in for the injured Hugo Keenan at full-back, one of seven changes to the team that defeated Italy 36-0.
The 26-year-old has had to serve a long apprenticeship in the Irish squad. Frawley has been a regular part of Ireland training squads since November 2021, but some poor luck with injuries delayed his debut until Ireland's World Cup warm-up campaign, when he came off the bench in the second half of the win against Italy in August.
His only other exposure came in the final minutes of Ireland's Six Nations win in Marseille at the start of February, but with Keenan absent due to injury, the versatile Frawley's first start will come at full-back rather than his preferred out-half.
And Farrell says the Skerries man (below) deserves his starting place.
"He has been in and around the squad, and he's always had an appetite to want to get to this type of position," Farrell said.
"Now it has come around, I'm sure it’s a big moment for him and his family to start the game. But it’s all about performing isn’t it and taking your chance.
"That’s what international rugby is all about. All you need is a chance, it’s up to the individuals to go and take that and prove a point."
It's also an opportunity to test Ireland's depth at full-back, although Farrell says he expects Keenan to be fit for the away trip to England in just over two weeks.
He said: "Hugo doesn't get injured too much, does he? His [Frawley's] skillset is fantastic, and I'm sure that it's a big week for him, so there'll be a test of his temperament. He's playing in a good side so I'm sure he'll take his chance."
The one minor surprise in Farrell's squad for the weekend sees Oli Jager come onto the bench, with the Munster tighthead prop in line for his debut.
Jager (below), who only returned to Ireland in at the start of December following a 10-year stint in New Zealand, should get an opportunity to impress in the second half after being selected ahead of Finlay Bealham and Tom O'Toole.
The 28-year-old was initially selected as an additional "training panelist" for the pre-Six Nations camp in Portugal, but Farrell says he's made a big impact in a short period of time.
"It's always a pleasure to give someone their debut. I think this is a special one because it's a special story in Oli," Farrell added.
Jager moved to New Zealand as an 18-year-old, spending a decade in the country and playing more than 50 times for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
For some time, it was expected he would go on to play Test rugby with the All Blacks, before Munster swooped in to bring him back to Ireland late in 2023.
"We've had him earmarked for a while but watching him start his career in Ireland at Munster and how that's gone and then giving him the opportunity to come to Portugal with us, and he's had a few more weeks with the squad since then, we've been nothing but impressed," he said.
"He's a big man, very low maintenance, a proper man's man, you know? The 'tache says it all!
"He's very knowledgeable, very well coached, and for a big man he gets around the field and has a good feel. He deserves his chance.
"I thought coming into camp and then transferring that to his performance against the Scarlets where he had not actually played for quite some time was pretty impressive. So we're excited for him to show what he's got on Saturday."
The Ireland coach confirmed that Garry Ringrose wasn't considered for selection, with the centre yet to return to full contact training following his shoulder injury, while Iain Henderson also misses out with a dislocated toe, which Farrell says will not be a long-term issue.
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Watch Ireland v Wales in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
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