FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT
FARRELL HAS REAL DEPTH IN THE SQUAD AS IRELAND REBUILD FOR THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
SPARE a thought for this USA squad who took an unmerciful beating from a youthful Ireland side on Saturday night. They are due to meet again on October 30 in Las Vegas. That recently announced fixture will be the curtain-raiser to Ireland’s new season.
Then the real business of the autumn internationals begins in earnest in November, when the All Blacks, Argentina and Japan will be in town.
The Allegiant Stadium — the space-age 65,000-seater arena which the Las Vegas Raiders call home — will be the venue for the encounter. You’d forgive the Americans if they aren’t skipping into the ground for the rematch.
They conceded 71 points on Saturday. It won’t get any easier with the likes of Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Conor Murray, Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki back on board.
Niot many will bet against another Irish rout in Vegas.
The big question is whether some of the old guard will be boarding the flight to Sin City.
Cian Healy, Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls took the summer off. Andy Farrell’s logic was clear on that front: Ireland need to build depth in their positions and a full pre-season pogramme for three players on the wrong side of 30 will do no harm.
It was a win-win scenario. Dave Kilcoyne, Joey Carbery and Robert Baloucoune all look primed to take over at loosehead, out-half and the right wing.
Last weekend’s team selection was the clearest sign yet that Farrell is looking to a new generation to take this squad to the 2023 World Cup, and beyond.
Rory Best, Rob Kearney and CJ Stander have all retired since the last World Cup. Another stalwart, Peter O’Mahony, could struggle to break into this Irish backrow.
Caelan Doris looks nailed on. Gavin Coombes looks the real deal. Josh van der Flier has reached a new level. Beirne and Jack Conan have shown their quality on Lions duty. Dan Leavy and Will Connors should be back from long-term injuries. It’s a staggering level of depth.
The second row has plenty of talent as well, with Ryan Baird showcasing his freakish athleticism against the US.
In the frontrow, Ronan Kelleher should move ahead of Rob Herring in the pecking order.
The Leinster hooker is still a bit rough around the edges on the technical front but he is too good to leave on the bench.
Conor Murray will be feeling the heat as well.
The Munster scrum-half may return with his reputation greatly enhanced as Lions captain, potentially a series-winning captain for good measure, but Craig Casey will keep him honest on the provincial beat.
It will be the same story at the high-performance centre in Abbotstown. Murray will be watching Jamison Gibson-Park over his shoulder while Ulster’s young starlet Nathan Doak will be involved at Test level, sooner rather than later.
The depth in the midfield and back three looks exceptionally healthy as well. Baloucoune stole the show on Saturday. James Hume has plenty about him.
Farrell would probably like to see another few loosehead props put their hands up. As things stand, Healy and Kilcoyne look like the only reliable candidates.
At least the picture at out-half is looking a lot more encouraging. Joey Carbery looks a lot more like himself while Harry Byrne got a taste of Test rugby off the bench.
A reinvigorated Sexton will not relinquish his starting spot without a fight, but at least the No10 position is looking more like a rivalry now.
The key for Farrell is fusing the experienced with the rookies. If they can replicate some of the attacking play displayed here, then they have the nucleus of a serious side going forward. That’s Farrell’s plan anyway.
‘We are growing and that competition for places for lads that have not been in camp before is only going to add to that,’ said the Ireland head coach after the USA game.
‘You saw in parts tonight, once we settled down that we are able to play to space quite a bit and get our game flowing at times.
‘Our set-piece, I was really pleased with the scrum tonight. Tom O’Toole has been in with us for some time now and I was delighted for him.
‘I thought our scrum stood up and, in general throughout the year, has been excellent. Our lineout and maul is now the weapon that we are after as well.
‘I was delighted with our attitude in defence as well, so all areas have to grow after a long year of rugby. That bodes well for the next time we meet up.’
It’s going to be quite the squad by the looks of it.
“All areas have
to grow after a long year”