A BRACE IN THE PACK
IT’S not often a player scores two tries on his first Test start and isn’t the main topic of conversation.
But it happened to Tadhg Beirne in Chicago on Saturday when Jordan Larmour, also in his first full game for Ireland, went on to grab a hat-trick against Italy.
But far from feeling denied the limelight, Munster second row Beirne joked that Larmour could now be a NFL target after his Soldier Field sorcery.
“We were saying that if the Chicago Bears lad is looking at him, he might be poaching him,” laughed Beirne. “But Jordan is a bit of a freak when it comes to his speed and his agility.
“He just picks them off like it’s nothing and he’s a credit. He’s just a natural talent, isn’t he? He’s a gifted player, that’s what you’d call him. And he’s still not the finished article because he’s 21 and he’ll keep learning.
“So imagine how good he’ll be by the time he’s 27, 28.”
Beirne is known for his versatility in the pack – for being able to put in a big performance whether selected in his usual second row role or in the back row.
Larmour too is able to mix it up in the backline and against the Azzurri he started at full-back but was switched to the left wing in the second half.
With Rob Kearney a doubt for the Argentina clash on Saturday, Larmour could well get another start at No.15.
And Beirne likes the look of the Leinster talent there.
“Full-back gives him that little bit of extra space to run at guys and pick them off because that’s what he’s good at,” said the former Scarlets man.
“He’s shown that in the past, how good his feet are. I’m sure he’ll take whatever position he is given but he showed how good he is as a full-back on Saturday.”
Beirne is now fighting it out for a second row berth with James Ryan, Iain Henderson and Devin Toner all available to face the Pumas in Dublin.
The 25-year-old admitted: “I’ll take one game at a time and I’m hoping to be involved. If I’m lucky enough to be starting or on the bench, hopefully I’ll be ready for it.
“There were four second rows in Chicago and we’re all in the same boat. Obviously Iain Henderson remained behind.”
Beyond that there is the All Blacks to come in under a fortnight’s time and again he would love to be central to that effort.
“They’re number one in the world, you grow up watching those Ireland and All Black games, especially the one in Chicago two years ago,” Beirne said. “It would be pretty cool to play them. Everyone here has a point to prove, everyone is trying to gun for a starting position.”