Former Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan has encouraged Andy Farrell to “roll the dice” with in-form Ulster centre James Hume in next month's tour of New Zealand.
A combination of Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki have been Farrell’s preferred midfield pairing on the international stage in recent times.
But Hume has been one of Ulster’s stand-out stars this season and shone in a try-scoring performance in Friday night’s thumping URC quarter-final win over Munster in Belfast.
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It was a vibrant display in front of Farrell, who was watching on from the stands, and Quinlan believes the 23-year-old has given the Ireland coach a headache ahead of next month's tour of New Zealand.
“James Hume was superb, absolutely superb,” Quinlan told Off The Ball. “He’s strong, he has developed his strengths more, he’s physical and he’s a lovely stepper as well.
“The problem he has is Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki.”
While Hume is down the pecking order, Quinlan agrees that the 23-year-old is equipped to force his way into Farrell’s test team with the first of three showdowns with the All Blacks on July 2.
“He has been really, really consistent for Ulster and there is an argument that he should go straight in there, but it would be very hard on Garry Ringrose," he said.
“He wouldn’t be too happy - or Henshaw or Bundee Aki - but maybe you just roll the dice with him with the World Cup (coming up) next year.
“Throw him in at the deep end and say ‘go and play’ and ‘show us some more of that’.
“It’s a different level and a step up and he’ll maybe wait until the second test to see how it pans out. I don’t know, but look, he was superb the other night.”
Hume has won three Ireland caps to date, the last coming as a replacement for Ringrose in a Six Nations win over Italy in Dublin in February.
Quinlan was also impressed by Ulster flanker Nick Timoney who was one of two Ulster players alongside Hume named in the 2021/22 URC Dream Team.
Timoney, who has two Ireland caps on his CV, scored one of Ulster’s five tries against Munster, supporting a Hume break to race clear for his eighth try of the season.
“Nick Timoney changed gears the other night and was superb, so he’s kind of put himself back (in the Ireland picture),” said Quinlan.
“I said before the game that there were a couple of battles for maybe places for the plane to New Zealand and Timoney was outstanding.
“John Cooney was brilliant as well. (Robert) Baloucoune.. what a player, coming on at pace and a try-saving tackle on Joey Carbery.
“Without overextending themselves Ulster struck at different moments. They were brilliant and to score two tries off first phase at that level will be incredibly pleasing for them.”
Ulster face the Stormers in the semi-finals of the URC on Saturday.
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