Humphreys believes out-half is another position that needs to be addressed.

Sam Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley are acting as cover for Jack Crowley on the South Africa tour, while Leinster's number one Ross Byrne and Harry Byrne are also in the mix for a position where Leinster have an embarrassment of riches.

With Connacht unable to attract Prendergast or Harry Byrne into a move out west, it has been confirmed that All Black Josh Ioane is joining the province next season.

Humphreys admits it is not an ideal solution but insisted there is no merit in "forcing players to go where they don't want to go".

"Id push it back to the provinces," he said.

"They have got to sell what they're offering on the playing front, training facilities, coaching, everything to make a player want to go there.

"Where there's a very obvious logjam... I and the IRFU will never move a player against their will, but again it sends a very clear message to Andy Farrell.

"If you're happy to sit third, fourth, maybe fifth choice when you could be playing somewhere else and potentially developing your career... that's not the sort of player that will be travelling to places like this on tour."