Trimble absence upsets Wood

Editor

Former Ireland hooker Keith Wood has queried the absence of Andrew Trimble from their World Cup squad, saying he "causes carnage" on the field.

The 30-year-old was left out by head coach Joe Schmidt and will instead play for Ulster on Friday, with Dave Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald named in Ireland's 31-man group. 

Wood believes Ireland should have picked solid wing Trimble with one of Fitzgerald and Keith Earls, who he views as being similar in their strengths.

"Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald are both very fast, but very slight, guys. I would have gone with one of them, and then Trimble," he told Matt Dawson's BBC 5 live Rugby Show.

"Andrew Trimble is a block of a man, he causes carnage when he is on the field.

"It is about trying to weigh up the difference with the injuries, but I would have made a gamble with Trimble that he would get back right."

Wood is also nervous about the decision to pick only two scrum-halves in their 31-man squad, believing they are taking a risk that could backfire.

"I think it is an uncomfortable risk to take in one of the technical positions," he explained.

"You could have an injury to someone like Conor Murray and he might be out for a week or 10 days. You can bear that as a luxury when you have a third scrum-half.

"But if you have to get another scrum-half in, then Conor Murray has gone out of the World Cup and he is very, very important to Ireland.

"Technical positions make it very difficult. You need three hookers, three tight-heads, and I think you need three scrum-halves."