As October ticks towards its conclusion, we're edging closer to Ireland's return to international action in the Guinness Series which will see Joe Schmidt's side test themselves against New Zealand a year out from the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
While Conor Murray told us he would miss out as he moves closer to a return to action after injury, there are three uncapped additions in the Ireland squad named by Joe Schmidt on Wednesday afternoon.
Ulster back Will Addison, Leinster out half Ross Byrne and Munster centre Sam Arnold get a call-up for an international window with significance with Japan 2019 in mind.
Three uncapped players have made the cut for Ireland's upcoming November international fixtures ☘ï¸ðŸ‰ https://t.co/NrdQOrwl3Z
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) October 24, 2018
The Irish Independent's Ruaidhri O'Connor has tipped Addison to see some game-time and potentially even start a game as he joined us on Wednesday Night Rugby.
"He's played at full-back and outside centre so far for Ulster this season," he said of a player who also featured on the wing at youth level.
"He just looks like a really clever Jared Payne-esque [player] in terms of his intelligence. He's a good option taker, brings other players into the game, is quick, strong, powerfully built.
"He's a leader. He captained Sale for a season already. He's 26, so he's a new cap but he's coming in pretty much fully-formed as a rugby player. Joe Schmidt is a big fan.
"Towards the end of the last briefing we got from Joe in Australia, Addison had managed to book his holidays to Melbourne in the exact same week that Ireland were in Melbourne strangely enough and he came in and trained. He did a couple of days with the Ireland squad and even been in the environment already. So Joe's already had this guy on the map for a long time."
Ruaidhri added: "I think he could start in Chicago quite conceivably and he becomes a very interesting bench option for every game because he covers so many positions."
