Decision time - Andy Farrell facing crucial calls v Springboks

Given the desire to avoid France in a potential World Cup quarter-final, it's no exaggeration to say Ireland are heading into the biggest game yet of the Andy Farrell era.

On the face of it, Ireland appear to be in a good place physically as we lead into the big Pool B meeting at Stade de France; Dan Sheehan appears to be on track to play after recovering from a foot injury, Jack Conan is also making good progress with the number 8 more likely to feature against the Scots in the final game of the pool, while Finlay Bealham is on course to be available after coming through his head injury assessment.

Farrell will name his team on Thursday, two days out from their meeting with the world champion Springboks, and while his the majority of his matchday 23 looks locked in, there are a coupe of places up for grabs in both the starting XV and on the bench.

One of those is at hooker where Farrell appears to be spoiled for choice, with three players fighting it out for two spots.

Dan Sheehan is expected to be put straight back into the starting side after his foot injury, with Rob Herring (below) and Rónan Kelleher likely to contest the 16 shirt.

"The Rónan Kelleher Rob Herring one is a real brain teaser in the sense that there's subplots to it," former Leinster, Connacht and Ulster lock Mick Kearney told the RTÉ Rugby World Cup podcast.

"Obviously Rob Herring is Irish and has played for Ireland but there's the added motivation of him being born in Cape Town.

"The idea of him playing his country of birth, you speak to the likes of Richardt Strauss who has done it in the past, he’ll tell you it’s a game he couldn’t have been more up for from a motivational point of view.

"That’s not to say Kelleher won’t be up for the biggest game of the