Irish Rugby: Key questions as returning coach Andy Farrell prepares to name his autumn squad

Farrell would have liked to see one of his halves take permanent possession of the No. 10 jersey during the Lions’ holiday.

It didn’t quite work out that way. Sam Prendergast, who made his Test debut in last year’s Autumn Series, started the Six Nations as a top-10 player.

However, after a difficult afternoon against a tense France, he was dropped on the bench behind Jack Crawley for Ireland’s final match in Italy.

Neither player joined Farrell’s Lions squad and they started one summer Test each for Ireland, leaving the picture unclear heading into the autumn.

However, they are set to play against each other for the first time in Saturday’s match at Croke Park. Crawley has enjoyed a stronger start to the 2025-26 season, but both players have one last chance to shape Farrell’s thinking ahead of Chicago.

Harry Byrne has also attracted positive reviews recently. Keen to accelerate his development, he joined Bristol on loan for the second half of the 2024-25 season and impressed in his first Leinster game in over a year against a poor Sharks side last weekend.

Byrne, who last played for Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations, could be included in the squad, but the No.10 shirt for the All Blacks match is one that Prendergast or Crowley should claim.