Ronan O’Gara has questioned whether Ireland have the squad depth required to reach a World Cup final, highlighting the challenge of replacing key players such as Jamison Gibson-Park.

With next year’s tournament in Australia approaching, the former Ireland out-half believes the strength of the wider squad will be crucial to Andy Farrell’s chances.

Speaking to Dan Biggar for Daily Mail Sport, O’Gara identified several areas where questions remain, from the competition at out-half to the options in midfield.

“We’re still none the wiser as to who is controlling the team. Is it Sam Prendergast or Jack Crowley?” O’Gara said.

“That’s still an obvious question mark. So is the centre pairing. Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey are all the other side of 30. Experience is important, but you need young, vibrant guys jumping out of their skin to compete.”

For O’Gara, the issue extends beyond identifying Ireland’s strongest starting side.

The physical demands of tournament rugby mean Farrell will need players throughout his squad capable of stepping in when injuries inevitably disrupt his plans.

“In rugby today, you have to work on the average there will be three or four injuries a game. It’s so brutal now physically,” he said.

“Do Ireland have the depth to go through to a World Cup final if they lose players from their strongest 23? I’m hoping they can. To win a World Cup, the emphasis is always on overall squad depth compared to a starting team.”

O’Gara singled out scrum-half as an example of how difficult it can be to replace an influential player.

Gibson-Park’s importance to Ireland’s attack has made the quality of the options behind him a significant talking point. However, O’Gara also stressed that the difference reflects the Leinster player’s standing in the game.

“There’s certainly a big drop off at No 9 when you take out Jamison Gibson-Park, but that’s the reality when you’re talking about world-class players.”

His assessment puts the emphasis on the players pushing Ireland’s established names as much as those currently holding the jerseys.

Experience remains valuable, but O’Gara believes Ireland need genuine competition throughout the squad if they are to withstand the demands of a run to the World Cup final.