We may have lost Him, but Ireland's depth at inside-centre continues to swell. Bundee Aki qualifies for Ireland this Autumn, but the Connacht centre may not be the only option at 13 for Joe Schmidt.
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Munster's Chris Farrell - signed from Bernard Jackman's Grenoble Grenoble at the end of last season - has impressed in his Munster career thus far, and was one of Munster's critical players in today's gritty, 21-16 victory away to the Ospreys.
The game's critical moment was Darren Sweetnam's try a few minutes before half-time, in which Farrell played a critical role. It was Farrell who made the initial break, and followed up with strong work at the subsequent ruck to facilitate Sweetnam's going over in the corner.
You can watch that moment below:
Chris Farrell
Jean Kleyn was Man of the Match, but speaking on Sky afterward, Alan Quinlan showered Farrell in praise, tipping his international prospects.
He's a great addition. Mike Prendergast, former Munster player who coached him at Grenoble, has been raving about him over the last couple of seasons. Anytime I've spoken with Ronan O'Gara, he says that this guy is unbelievable - his hands, his pace, his ability to move with the ball. He's such a big man - 6 ft 4', 110 kilos - but he looks very nimble. What a break.
Farrell came through Ulster's academy but struggled to make the breakthrough as his early career was fraught with injury. He turned down the opportunity to stay in Ireland in 2014 to make the move to Grenoble, where he has evidently developed and benefitted from some more fortune on the injury front.
He looks a fine addition to Munster's squad for the season ahead, and may well be an option for Ireland by the end of the Six Nations. too.
