Focus is now on Italian job and team trying new things
IT was back to work for this Ireland squad last night. Andy Farrell’s crew parted ways when they landed back in Dublin on Saturday. Having been away from home for 12 days, taking in the warm weather training camp in Portugal and the trip to Marseille, the playing group and management returned home for some rest and family time before reconvening at base camp last evening.
The bank holiday weekend and the nine-day turnaround to the second round game against Italy allowed this team the perfect opportunity to refresh body and mind after a brilliant, but gruelling, performance against the French.
That record-breaking win against Les Bleus has put Ireland in pole position in this championship. The schedule of games couldn’t have fallen any better either.
The Azzurri are in town on Sunday. Then, a two-week run-in to the Welsh, who are also visiting the Aviva. Another down week to recover before the pivotal final fortnight featuring a visit to Twickenham and then a Super Saturday meeting with the Scots in the capital.
A second Slam is there for the taking, surely?
For now, the focus will be on an Italian side who could and really should have beaten England in Rome last weekend.
A team which has a new coaching group and no shortage of talent in their ranks. The fact that Benetton Treviso are currently second in the URC standings (just behind leaders Leinster) will also focus minds.
No doubt, there will be plenty of references to last season’s jittery performance at Stadio Olimpico coming out of the Abbotstown dispatches this week as well.
Ireland will pay the Italians plenty of lip service this week but, internally, they know that they will have more than enough to secure a win, with plenty to spare.
There should be scope to shake things up. Indeed, that very question was put to Farrell in Stade Vélodrome on Friday night.
‘Yes and no,’ was the predictably cryptic response from the Ireland boss when asked about giving some of the fringe players a run.
‘Whatever’s right for the team. There’s always the balance about opportunity but also doing what’s right for the team and the cohesion of the team going forward.
‘It’s a bit of an awkward one, isn’t it? We’ve only had one game together so we’ll [see] how we shape up on Monday.’
We don’t think there’s any harm in trying a few things against Italy. Because this team, despite their star showing in France, still have a few things to figure out..
PROP IDOLS
For all of Ireland’s scrum issues — and whether that’s down to technique or perception is a debate for another day — Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong are light years ahead of the chasing pack.
This looming round-two fixture is a perfect opportunity to stress test some of the back-up props against an Italian set-piece which means business. The focus will primarily be on the tighthead side.
There isn’t really much Farrell can learn from starting a 36-yearold Cian Healy, with 126 caps to his name, or Jeremy Loughman, an honest operator with Munster but a player who lacks the size and power game at the top level.
Farrell is watching the progress of Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy with interest. The pair of rookie Leinster looseheads are the future.
They will come into the reckoning in the coming years. For now, Porter is miles in front and that’s the way it will stay. There is a hint of a stopgap about Healy and Loughman.
There is far more quality at tighthead. Finlay Bealham is not the biggest prop but the Connacht forward continues to deliver excellent shifts for club and country. He’s worth a start on Sunday. Tom O’Toole, who was recently linked with a move back to Leinster, could do with some extra exposure from the bench as well.
Ronan Kelleher, after an excellent cameo against the French, has earned a starting spot, too. Healy, Dan Sheehan and Furlong is a handy cast of frontrow replacements to have waiting in the wings as well.
RYAN REPRIEVES
After a slick lineout performance in France, featuring a return of 13 from 13 out of touch, Farrell might be slow to break up the pack, especially after Tadhg Beirne’s excellent work as a caller. A role which is relatively new for the Munster lock.
Then there was Joe McCarthy who was colossal in the opening round. The Leinster lock will be yearning for more action after his star turn in Marseilles.
There is also an argument to retain backrow unit en bloc. But this is going to be a long campaign and Farrell will be mindful of his frontliners racking up too many minutes before crunch encounters with Wales, England and Scotland in the tournament.
He may be tempted to rest a few of his stars. We wouldn’t be surprised to see James Ryan and Ryan Baird get the nods this weekend. It would be a good
reprieve for Ryan after his demotion to the bench, while Baird’s provincial form should be rewarded. Beirne and O’Mahony can offer plenty of impact later in the contest.
CENTRAL ISSUE
Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley are likely to start again at half back. This promising combination got its first proper outing at Stade Velodrome and it shows promise. Farrell will be keen to see the pair boss matters again this week.
He may be tempted to take a look at Ciaran Frawley in midfield, however. Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw were sublime last time out, while Garry Ringrose could be back in contention after he missed the trip to France with a shoulder injury. Farrell knows what all three bring to the table at his point, mind you.
The prospect of Frawley’s playmaking ability in midfield is interesting, though. Ireland have never really had a ballplaying inside centre and the Leinster back could flourish in that role. A new-look midfield alongside the recalled Ringrose could have a nice balance to it.
Farrell’s options in the back three are pretty limited. Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Calvin Nash all delivered big shifts last time out and it would be no surprise to see all three retained for this next assignment.
A genuine alternative to Keenan at full-back remains uncertain. If not for untimely injuries, Mack Hansen or Jimmy O’Brien were probably earmarked to wear the No15 jersey for this fixture.
Alas, Farrell will once again lean on Keenan. Perhaps the summer tour of South Africa will be the time for stress test a different full-back.
Farrell will be more than pleased with Ireland’s stunning start, but he knows that he needs more depth in critical positions. Don’t be surprised to see some experimentation against Italy.