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Decisions, decisions, decisions. Making seven changes last week for the first game of the Fall Nations Cup against Wales, Andy Farrell said he wanted to see more competition for places. He did that, so much so that Farrell and company were apparently left with plenty of options for Saturday’s trip to Twickenham (starts at 3pm, live on RTÉ and Channel 4).
“Not all the guys from last week got knocked out you know,” Farrell reminded us immediately after the 32-9 win over Wales. “There was an element of giving people a chance and seeing if they could handle a start or if they could take a chance and take advantage of it, and I think a lot of them did. That is great for us in the future.
“Competition for places, as I keep saying, is fundamentally key to moving this group forward, not just in the fall but in the Six Nations and also for years to come.”
It is true that the options have since been reduced by the injuries of two players who would undoubtedly have started, namely Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw. Regardless, Farrell and his coaches seem to have genuine decisions to make in every combination.
Take the back three. With his dynamic loading, unloading and left boot, James Lowe’s smooth transition to test rugby has surely cemented his place, while Hugo Keenan brought his work pace and composure to fullback. It remains to be seen if Jacob Stockdale has overcome his tight calf.
The midfield curse having added Henshaw alongside Garry Ringrose to the casualty list, presumably Bundee Aki is also making a comeback after the jolt of missing out last week inside Chris Farrell.
One imagines that Farrell’s reminder of players who won’t be eliminated might have Conor Murray in mind, and an impressively high pace – though Jamison Gibson-Park established early on, Murray’s experience could be more valuable if Billy Burns is ready to make his full Test debut. However, Burns’ EIS could throw a question mark about his involvement. Alternatively, Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne have more understanding.
About the only unit that seems reasonably safe to call is the facade. Maybe. Rónan Kelleher’s first outing would have come earlier than last Friday had it not been for the injuries and he kept his nerves were it not for the lopsided shot when Ireland first went to the corner. It also brings the dynamism that Ireland needs.
Last Friday, after recently turning 30, something seemed to click in Quinn Roux. A late replacement for Iain Henderson, Roux’s performance illustrated what Joe Schmidt was saying when he first brought him to Leinster more than eight years ago.
Mike Ross said that Roux was the strongest lock to pack behind him, likening it to having a JCB on its rear. Andrew Porter enjoyed his best day in scrum time in an Irish jersey and it was surprising to see him turn, wink and point at Roux after winning the first Irish scrum penalty. And Roux, who scored a try, did much more.
It’s true that Mako Vunipola will be a completely different proposition to Rhys Carre, as Porter knows all too well from the Leinster-Saracens quarterfinals in September. The memory of that game is also fresh enough that Irish management, who are toying with the idea of converting Porter to lose their minds one day, seriously consider having Roux behind Porter against Vunipola and the English-infused scrum of Saracens. Against that, Iain Henderson has apparently been training this week and has a flourishing partnership with James Ryan.
Like Porter, Caelan Doris and Will Connors will have also learned their ‘diving’ lessons at the back of the scrum by preparing for Billy Vunipola that day, as they have since admitted. Doris brought another dimension at number eight against Wales with her footwork and distribution that is worth retaining at that position, but it’s hard to sacrifice CJ Stander’s relentless work pace and jackal.
On the other hand, Peter O’Mahony responded like the quality player he is by staying on the bench in the previous two games and still brings lineout skills that no other Irish backrower possesses, as well as any Munster hounds.
Decisions, decisions, decisions. But that’s why Farrell gets paid a lot.
Ireland (possible) v England: Keenan; Conway, Farrell, Aki, Lowe; R Byrne, Murray; Healy, Kelleher, Porter, Ryan (captain), Henderson, Stander, Connors, Doris. Replacements: Heffernan, E Byrne, Bealham, Roux or Beirne, O’Mahony, Gibson-Park, B Burns, Earls.
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