Despite the number of players in a World Cup squad being increased this year, there will still be a handful of talents who will fail to be selected.
For Ireland, the likes of either Earls or Stockdale, Gavin Coombes, and Stuart McCloskey, look like they might miss out.
These are players who would make most other squads, and have not put a foot wrong. But, given the depth in Irish rugby right now, somebody must miss out.
In McCloskey's case, he happens to play in a position with three reliable world class options ahead of him, and for these reasons, Stephen Ferris reckons he may miss out on a place in Andy Farrell's squad.
"For Stuart McCloskey, it really is difficult because you have Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw there who can both play centre, can both play 13," said Ferris in one of our regular exclusive interviews, in association with Ladbrokes.
And yet Stuart McCloskey is just deployed at 12 all the time, whether it's for Ulster or whether it's for Ireland, it's 12.
But we know that Ireland like to have a second playmaker as well. And if that's Jack Crowley at 12, we know that Bundee is a very good distributer as well, a bit more of a running threat, possibly.
Stephen Ferris Stuart McCloskey's World Cup Chances
5 August 2023; Stuart McCloskey of Ireland during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
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Aside from the three main centres, there are also the likes of Jimmy O'Brien, who has shown his capabilities there at international level, and, as Ferris points out, Jack Crowley, who has played 12 on numerous occasions for Munster.
"But when you look at the centres, I think Andy Farrell knows that Aki is ahead of him at 12. He knows that Robbie Henshaw is ahead of him at 12.
"Garry Ringrose is going to be in there. And then do you pick Jack Crowley that can cover 12 and 10, with Ross Byrne and Johnny Sexton there?
"So I think possibly somebody like Stuart McCloskey, who has not put a foot wrong, could miss out just because there's other guys ahead of him who have a little bit more experience, British and Irish Lions.
"And unfortunately for him, I think every other team in world rugby would probably have him in their squad, but I hope he makes it. I really hope he makes it.
"I think he deserves to make it over the last couple of seasons. But I wouldn't be surprised if there was a shock there."
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