Ireland have the talent to share play-making duties: Addison
WILL Addison believes Ireland boast enough creative talents to thrive in a twin play-making system at the World Cup.
Connacht’s Jack Carty will jump ahead of Ross Byrne in the World Cup selection stakes with a positive showing at fly-half in today’s warm-up clash against Wales in Cardiff.
Byrne struggled in Ireland’s record 57-15 loss to England at Twickenham last weekend and has not made the bench for the Principality Stadium trip.
Addison will start at full-back but also cover fly-half, with centre Garry Ringrose also an option to step in at 10 off the bench.
“There’s a couple of guys who like to play-make in our backline and I think it’s something we’ve done really well over the last 12 months. Guys have stepped in at 12, 10, wherever across the backline,” said Addison.
“I’ve stepped in at 10 in the past at Sale and I’ve done it with Ulster the odd time and, yeah, if it happens, you’ve got to be ready for it, as I’m sure Garry Ringrose will be ready for it too.”
Utility back Addison has featured in cameos at fly-half with Ulster, though Leinster star Ringrose has not played 10 since school.
Head coach Joe Schmidt is clearly boosting Ireland’s emergency options by challenging Addison and Ringrose to cover flyhalf this weekend, but any World Cup injuries and one or both just might find themselves piloting the backline in Japan.
Premier playmaker Johnny Sexton is yet to feature in Ireland’s World Cup warmup schedule, having suffered a thumb problem and then a minor leg concern.
Ireland still expect their British and Irish Lions talisman to be at full tilt for the World Cup kick-off, against Scotland on September 22.
Joey Carbery remains in a race against time to be fit from ankle trouble for that opening Pool A encounter. The Munster star’s injury concern means Ireland are likely to take a third recognised 10, leaving the door open for Carty or Byrne.
An Ireland backline driven by either Addison or Ringrose at flyhalf might receive an injection of pace and direct running though, which Schmidt will doubtless hope can hand his attack an entirely different dimension.
England Under-20s graduate Addison boasts just three Ireland caps but Schmidt prizes his versatility and attacking acumen extremely highly.
•LAST season’s club Player of the Year Ross Adair will line out for Ulster ‘A’ in the Celtic Cup against Cardiff at Malone tonight (7.30pm).
The Ballynahinch man, who played once for Ulster, will come into a youthful side that kicked off their campaign with an impressive win away to Scarlets last weekend.