Stuart McCloskey hard done by with Ireland snub for…

Stuart McCloskey hard done by with Ireland snub for All Blacks trip, argues Stephen Ferris

Stuart McCloskey has been very hard done by in missing out on Ireland selection and could now consider a move abroad, argues Stephen Ferris.

Bruising Ulster centre McCloskey did not make the cut for Andy Farrell's 40-man squad and Ferris is upset that the 29-year-old has been snubbed.

"He hasn't had a fair crack," claimed the former Ulster and Ireland flanker, who also believes Munster back row Jack O'Donoghue should have travelled.

"I scream the house down for McCloskey all the time but I’m not going to bother anymore because I don’t think he’s in the frame and I don’t think he ever will be.

"If he was playing in the English Premiership for Saracens, he’d be a starting 12 for England week in, week out. If he playing in the Top 14 for Toulouse, he’d probably be the starting 12 for France.

"Arguably, you can go around the rest of the nations. For some reason, his face just doesn’t fit.

"If I was in his shoes, I’m not sure how long I’d be hanging around Irish rugby in the future.

"If his main goal is obviously to play for Ireland, and that’s not happening, and he could earn a fortune somewhere else because he is so durable, he plays so many games."

Ferris says that McCloskey has played consistently this season while Bundee Aki suffered an injury-disrupted campaign.

He also feels that the 29-year-old is a more direct player than Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw - and a better distributor than both.

Canterbury, the official kit partner to Irish Rugby, today launched the new men’s and women’s Ireland Rugby Home jersey that will be worn throughout the 2022/23 season, plus a range of training wear for all fans of the game. Former Ireland international Stephen Ferris is pictured at the launch in Dublin. The new jerseys and training wear are on sale now in store at Intersport Elverys and online via Elverys.ie, and on Canterbury.com . The design of this year’s kit heroes the strength and unity of Irish players, fans and supporters against tough competitors, as both the Men’s and Women’s teams prepare to show the world that Ireland is “Made Stronger” in key test matches this summer. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

"McCloskey single-handedly took the Sharks apart a couple of weeks back, against South African opposition," added Ferris.

"He's physical, powerful, you watch him, he never ends up on his backside, whether it as rucks, in the tackle - I know he’s a bit of a choke tackler, he doesn’t put in big hits, he doesn’t knock people flat on their backside.

"Maybe that is an area where if he does want to play in a green jersey all the time that he has to fix."

Ferris says the Ireland players will travel with intent but he predicts it will be a tough tour, with five games pencilled in over three weeks.

"To go over there and get a win in one Test match would be an unbelievable achievement," said the former flanker.

"To go over there and get a series victory, I would be deluded in thinking that could be the outcome in five or six weeks.

"Now the lads who are on the plane and have just landed in Auckland are talking about getting a series win, they're not just there to make up the numbers.

"They're not just there to massage the New Zealand team's ego and not just turn up and roll over and be an Irish side like in 2012 and be embarrassed."