Peter O'Mahony

Heading to New Zealand, many Irish rugby supporters would have preferred Andy Farrell to give some of the fresher faces, and bodies, starts in the Test series.

At this stage, some will never be convinced that O'Mahony should be a guarantee to start for Ireland. Not at this stage, the doubters will say. And yet we had three times in a short space when the Kiwis got over the tryline but were held up. Every coach that ever had Peter O'Mahony recognises him as a player that will waste himself to get his side those tiniest of wins, all over the pitch. The performance from O'Mahony had it all. Garry Ringrose may be out of the mix, after his concussion, but Bundee Aki can slot right in. The first almost got Earls in for a try. There was also the quick-thinking, and no little skill, behind his 'funt' [forward's punt] with the outside of his boot. There was also the option of going Doris at blindside and Gavin Coombes at 8. At Eden Park, Andy Farrell started O'Mahony and he was one of a handful [no more than that] of Irish players that emerged with any credit from a 42-19 defeat. Heading to New Zealand, many Irish rugby supporters would have preferred Andy Farrell to give some of the fresher faces, and bodies, starts in the Test series. Under Farrell, Ireland only had one big away win during his head coach reign - beating an England team in Twickenham that had been reduced to 14 men after only 89 seconds. He seems to have that 'veteran' feel about him ever since he was 24.