'I'm probably hitting some of my best rugby now' - Marty Moore happy to wait for Ireland's call

Following Andrew Porter's switch across the scrum last summer, a gap has been created in the market for Tadhg Furlong's tighthead deputy.

Finlay Bealham got the job last November, and looks likely to continue in that role for the Six Nations with the Connacht man arguably enjoying his best season to date.

The longer-term option is Tom O'Toole; Ulster's powerful, dynamic prop is very much in the new breed of front- row forward, as comfortable with the ball as he is without, and a relentless tackler.

And while it seems for now like Andy Farrell has eyes on both Bealham and O'Toole, Marty Moore cannot be much further behind.

It's almost seven years now since Moore won the last of his 10 caps, playing every game across two Six Nations title-winning campaigns in 2014 and 2015. At the time the Dublin native had just turned 24, and with Tadhg Furlong yet to make the international breakthrough, Moore would have been a certainty to play for Ireland at the World Cup, but for a foot injury to end his chances.

His move to Wasps a year later saw his Test career cut, but having returned to Ireland with Dan McFarland and Ulster in 2018, the 30-year-old is arguably playing his best rugby since those Six Nations wins.

"I'd like to think I'm probably producing more quality rugby than I have consistently anyway and had more impacts in games and more involvements," he said ahead of Friday's United Rugby Championship meeting with Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium.

"Maybe not just hitting rucks and that but getting a little more time with the ball and things like that.

"But I haven’t had a huge amount of consistency thanks to a few niggles here and there this season and games being cancelled has gone against me as well.

"The ones I’ve been involved in on a