Dillane out to grab his big chance at Ireland, says Friend
LAST Monday marked a year to the day that Ultan Dillane made his one and only Six Nations start.
As he took to the pitch on Sunday, the mind wandered back to the only time he had previously played at Twickenham, which was on his Ireland debut back in 2016.
Such was Dillane’s impact that afternoon, many would have predicted that he would become a regular in the team over the following years, but he has since won just 14 more caps, and only made three starts.
The 26-year-old has endured a tough couple of years off the pitch, but he is showing signs that he is rediscovering his best form.
His cause hasn’t been helped by the fact that Ireland are not exactly short of second-row options, yet, at his best, Dillane is a superb power athlete, which Ireland are crying out for.
The Kerry native was part of a strong bench who certainly made an impact in the defeat to England, which Andy Farrell admitted has given him food for thought for the Italy game next week.
Back in Connacht, Andy Friend has seen first hand how hard Dillane has worked to get back on the Six Nations stage, and the Westerners’ head coach believes he can kick on again and target a starting place for that clash against the Azzurri.
“I thought he did really well when he came on, it was great to see him back in the Irish jersey,” Friend (right) said.
“What Ulty gives you is surge in his carry. He is an unbelievably powerful man and his physicality in attack and defence is very, very good. I would love to see him starting a game.
“Similarly, I thought Bundee (Aki) was outstanding. Three turnovers, it was a typical Bundee performance. He throws everything into the game. “Dave Heffernan is the other one at the moment. By all accounts, he is impressing people up there in the Irish squad, and he has been very, very good for us all year.
“It was disappointing for Ireland but I thought from a Connacht point of view, the two men did well.”
Ireland’s game plan has come under the microscope after they wilted under the power of England’s ferocious approach for the third consecutive game.
Connacht regularly face the same kind of problems against the stronger teams. Friend’s Sevens background has helped in his relentless quest to out-smart the opposition and avoid getting dragged into a slugfest, which more times than not they know they will not win.
“We’ve got a similar sort of situation here in Connacht,” Friend admitted.
“We don’t have the biggest team. We have got some powerful men, we have got some big men, but if you look across the PRO14 we wouldn’t be one of the bigger teams.
“What we are trying to do is mix our game up, so that if we have got a rush defence like that (England), we are kicking a lot more.
“We are trying to open up holes in different areas rather than have those collisions. That’s the way we try and do it.
“Everyone has got their strengths. England came out the other day with a real point to prove and, for the first time in the Six Nations, they really wanted to show their fans and their families what they are about.
“It was a pretty awesome opening 40 minutes, so it was pretty hard to contain that.”
Friend has again been left cursing his luck ahead of today’s departure to South Africa to take on the Southern Kings on Sunday, as Ireland international Finlay Bealham underwent successful ankle surgery in recent days and will be out until at least late May, which puts his season in major doubt.
With fellow props Rory Burke and Peter McCabe also struggling with ankle injuries, Connacht are exploring the options of bringing in short-term cover.
“The difficulty with that is the visas — it’s how long it takes for them to be able to be eligible,” Friend added.
“If they are UK-based, we might have a better chance. We are looking (for cover), but we are also conscious that we have got Pete McCabe here, who should be back. He has played a bit at loose and tighthead.”
The IRFU’s statement continued: “Until such time as the IRFU has had contact with the Minister and gets an understanding of the government’s strategic policy on travel to and from Ireland and the cancellation of mass gatherings, it is not in a position to comment further.”
Other rugby fixtures have already been affected by the coronavirus, with Ulster’s Guinness PRO14 game against Benetton in Treviso on Saturday postponed due to its impact in the local area, as has the Ospreys’ trip to Parma to face Zebre.
When Ireland’s game against the Italians would be rescheduled for is unclear, with no free weekends available before the end of the Six Nations on March 14, opening up the possibility of extending the tournament.
Meanwhile, Ireland prop Cian Healy will miss the remainder of the Six Nations with the hip problem he sustained in Saturday’s 24-12 defeat by England.
Healy was forced off in the first half at Twickenham with an injury head coach Andy Farrell described as a “jarred hip” and a scan has revealed the extent of the damage.
The 32-year-old is missing from a 28-man squad that will assemble in Dublin today for a two-day camp.
Healy is Ireland’s first-choice loosehead and the setback means he has been robbed of the chance to reach 100 caps in this Six Nations.
The Twickenham outing was his 98th and he would have expected to have accumulated two more in the remaining games against Italy and France.
Lions and Ulster second-row Ian Henderson returns to the squad having been withdrawn from the team to face England because of the birth of his son.