Back-up.

A lot has been said about Ireland’s options at outhalf in recent weeks. Joey Carbery picked up a worrying ankle injury in the win over Italy, while Johnny Sexton is yet to feature in any of Ireland’s warm-up games.

Ross Byrne started the disappointing loss to England, while it’s Jack Carty’s turn to start against Wales this weekend. But with Schmidt only able to bring a squad of 31 to Japan – he will likely only bring just three, or even two tens to the World Cup.

Even if Schmidt brings three, with Carbery and Sexton struggling with injury problems all season, he could do with another option in the squad. At it appears he has identified a surprise one in Garry Ringrose.

“I think as far as outhalf cover goes we’ve got a couple of guys. I think Will [Addison] is one of them. I think Garry Ringrose is the other.” Schmidt said today after naming his team to take on Wales

“Garry has played a bit at outhalf as a schoolboy and he has a temperament and a skill base that would allow him to fill in there.”

Ringrose will wear the number 22 jersey this weekend with no recognised ten on the bench so we could very well see him at outhalf sooner rather than later.