Andy Farrell sends clear message to Leinster with South Africa tour out-half selections

The headline jumped off the page when yesterday’s touring squad was announced.

Jamison Gibson-Park’s name was absent among the 35-player list and the Leinster scrumhalf’s absence, due to a hamstring injury sustained in last weekend’s URC semi-final loss to the Bulls, is a hammer blow to Ireland’s chances in South Africa next month.

Is Gibson-Park this team’s most influential player at the moment? The 32-year-old has been pivotal to the national team’s consistently excellent for the past three years.

The New Zealand-born half back is set to move onto the