Winners and losers from Ireland’s November squad announcement

Andy Farrell has raised one or two eyebrows with his squad selection for Ireland’s November Nations Championship Tests.

Just over a year out from the Rugby World Cup, every selection has to have one eye on Australia and make sure they can get over the quarter-final hoodoo.

As ever, some names have had to be left out, and one or two bolters have been thrown in; here’s a look at the winners and losers.

This squad selection was always going to leave the door open for a new No. 8 to break out, and it looks like Farrell has made it clear the jersey is up for grabs.

The four likely men to battle it out are Sean Jansen, who made an instant impact on his Test debut, Nick Timoney, who was a breakout star in the Six Nations, Cian Prendergast, who has plenty of experience in and around the squad now and is a canny lineout operator and newbie James McNabney, who’s returned in style after his injury lay-off.

McNabney was actually injured on International duty while Ireland prepared to face Georgia and Portugal in the summer of 2025, and 16 months later, he has the chance to right that wrong and make his Test debut.

Now, we may have become more comfortable over the last 12 months with Ulster and even Connacht having greater representation in the Ireland squad, but this latest announcement feels like rock bottom.

Tadhg Beirne and Craig Casey are the sole Munster representatives in Andy Farrell’s side, the lowest number in some time, while Ulster have 9, Connacht have 8, and Leinster lead the way with 17. And there have been some notable names left out.

With Conan’s injury against Clermont, many expected Brian Gleeson to get a call-up, but the Tipp man has been left out, while the likes of Jack Crowley and Calvin Nash have missed out through injury.

Others who may feel hard done by are the Edogbo brothers Edwin and Sean, Evan O’Connell and Dan Kelly. However, there aren’t many names you’d necessarily drop. It’s a highly competitive squad, but it feels like Munster came up short in every 50/50 decision.

It’s rare to get a near-complete unknown called up to the Ireland squad, but only a handful of months after making the move to Ulster from Harlequins, Benson has earned a surprise call-up.

The 24-year-old does come in with some pedigree, having represented England at U20 level and playing 44 times for a Harlequins side when competing for minutes with Marcus Smith. However, Benson’s inclusion has come as a shock to some, especially those who may not have watched every Ulster game this year.

The utility back is more than capable of playing at 10, 12 or 13, and has played in all three already for Ulster, as well as previously lining up at fullback for Quins. Andy Farrell revealed that Benson had spent some time with the squad in the summer before they went down to Australia.

With an eye on the World Cup, having a very capable utility back could come in very handy for Ireland during the six-week tournament.

And while one Ulster man thrives, this squad feels like one that got away for Jack Murphy. While Jack Crowley’s extended absence is worrying in a World Cup year, the Munster man’s time on the sideline did open the door for someone to make a name for themselves.

Murphy has been somewhat of an unsung hero in Irish rugby in recent years. He was unfortunately the next 10 to come in for Sam Prendergast on the U20 team and never received the credit he deserved for some of his performances at age-grade level, and that lack of appreciation has translated to his senior career.

Still only 22, Murphy has nearly 2 full seasons as a starter for Ulster, coming in at one of their lowest points in the professional era and thriving as they played some sensational attacking rugby last term. Rarely injured as well, he’s a player who’s earned a chance at Test level, but has been seemingly leapfrogged by newcomer Benson.

Connacht as a whole are well represented once again, but in Illo’s inclusion, and more strikingly Finlay Bealham’s exclusion, there looks to be a changing of the guard out west.

The 25-year-old alongside his front row partner Billy Bohan have been the biggest beneficiaries of Stuart Lancaster’s arrival in Galway, thriving under the former England coach’s system and, in Illo especially, they offer Andy Farrell something different.

Illo, a former No. 8 in school, can be a game changer in space, boasting some impressive acceleration and offers an energy that could be useful if Ireland are chasing games. It will be interesting to see if he gets a chance against Argentina or South Africa.