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ANDY FARRELL had three games in the first 12 months of his tenure as head of Ireland. Saturday’s clash with Italy is the first of six in seven weeks before Christmas.
In the spring, the coach’s cautious team selections suggested he stick close to Joe Schmidt’s roster, but yesterday he named a new-looking team that bore his own stamp.
The fact that he was broadcasting from, what appeared to be, his hotel room was another reminder that he is operating in unprecedented times. However, the long stoppage has narrowed his window to team building and he is now in charge of the twin tasks of winning the Six Nations and developing long-term players.
Injuries and suspension have influenced his choices. If Dan Leavy, Tadhg Furlong, Keith Earls, Jordan Larmour, Joey Carbery, Will Addison, and Iain Henderson were available, things could look different.
Settled down
His absence opens the door for some new faces to mingle with more established names.
Farrell’s team has seven players under the age of 25, but they are led by a 35-year-old captain, Johnny Sexton, and a bunch of more seasoned heads in the mix as well.
The coach made the team known to the players before training yesterday, ensuring that it did not appear in the media before it was officially named.
More importantly, he was keeping the players on their toes to make sure no one was comfortable in the early days of his camp.
“Well, it doesn’t get any hotter than Saturday afternoon playing international rugby, it doesn’t matter if there are fans there or not,” he said.
“The pressure you put yourself through in those moments, in those games, is something you dream of as a child all the time.
“There’s always pressure and if you can’t handle the pressure of a selection day, you’re not the right fit for the job anyway.”
So what can we learn about Farrell’s intentions from the team? By switching Jacob Stockdale to full-back in the absence of the injured Larmour, the coach both challenges him to take the jersey and also paves the way for James Lowe to enter the team when he qualifies next month.
Hugo Keenan’s mission is to make sure it’s not a foregone conclusion. The coach was effusive in his praise for the 24-year-old rookie, but the Blackrock graduate needs to start running as his provincial colleague is literally waiting behind the scenes.
At center, Robbie Henshaw has been sent off by Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose’s excellent starts to the season and Farrell will be closely watching the Lion’s response.
While New Zealand and England often choose centers on the bench for impact, Ireland rarely do so and while Henshaw will also cover the full-back, he can bring real intensity and experience when presented to him.
In between, the hegemony of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton continues. Still, Farrell will want Jamison Gibson-Park in to see if he can have the same effect on Ireland’s rhythm as Leinster, while Ross Byrne gets another chance to show off his wares.
Up front, the unknown Rob Herring continues to hold the number 2 jersey, though Ronan Kelleher’s quadruple problems should be solved in time for next week. At his side, Leinster supporters Cian Healy and Andrew Porter have the opportunity to ignore the struggles of their Saracens.
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Dave Heffernan of Connacht. Photo: Sportsfile
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Connacht’s partner Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham have their first internationalization since 2017 and 2018 respectively, while Ed Byrne makes his debut.
It’s an unproven combination and Ireland won’t want to be in a battle when that trio enters.
Quinn Roux’s ballast might have helped, but he has a shoulder problem, so he’s a moving second-row pairing of Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan, backed by Ultan Dillane, who missed the initial squad pick but may. have a real impact after impressing. Connacht.
Perhaps the biggest decisions have come in the back row, where Caelan Doris returns to the blind side with CJ Stander at No. 8. Will Connors starts on the open side for the first time.
That means Peter O’Mahony should be happy once again as the older man on the bench, while Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan are completely lost. Given the schedule, they will have a shot in the coming months but, when it comes to selection, possession is nine-tenths of the law.
Farrell wants a “ruthless” defense, “dynamism in our contact skills” and an “aggressive” set piece that goes after Italy. You want your attack to be “clinical.”
The next seven weeks will give us a window into where you want to take Ireland. The team has its stamp, let’s see how the performance goes.
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