Rugby World Cup 2015: Wood questions Schmidt's Ireland calls

Eoin Reddan and Conor Murray are the only specialist scrum-halves in the Ireland World Cup squad

Ex-Ireland hooker Keith Wood says he is "very nervous" about coach Joe Schmidt only selecting two specialist scrum-halves in his Rugby World Cup squad.

Schmidt picked Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan but opted to omit Isaac Boss and Kieran Marmion with utility back Ian Madigan set to be used as cover.

"I think it is an uncomfortable risk to take in one of the technical positions," said 58-times capped Wood.

The former captain also believes wing Andrew Trimble should have been picked.

Trimble's omission was the other major talking point from Ireland's 31-man selection with the Ulster wing's lack of recent game time following a long-term injury cited by Schmidt as the main reason for the decision.

However, BBC pundit Wood believes the Irish will miss Trimble's extra physicality.

"Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald are both very fast, but very slight, guys. I would have gone with one of them, and then Trimble," Wood told Matt Dawson's BBC 5 live Rugby Show.

"Andrew Trimble is a block of a man, he causes carnage when he is on the field.

"It is about trying to weigh up the difference with the injuries, but I would have made a gamble with Trimble that he would get back right."

Wood has even greater reservations about Schmidt's scrum-half call and is fearful that a short-term injury to Murray or Reddan could put Ireland's World Cup prospects in peril.

"You could have an injury to someone like Conor Murray and he might be out for a week or 10 days," said Wood. "You can bear that as a luxury when you have a third scrum-half.

"But if you have to get another scrum-half in, then Conor Murray has gone out of the World Cup and he is very, very important to Ireland.

"Technical positions make it very difficult. You need three hookers, three tight-heads, and I think you need three scrum-halves."