FARRELL IS ROCKED MACK ON HIS HEELS
A hammer blow for Hansen’s followed by bad news on O’brien but Ireland boss will now look to likes of Stockdale and Nash SIX NATIONS IRELAND STRETCHED
JACOB STOCKDALE and Calvin Nash are the next cabs on the rank for Ireland as Andy Farrell deals with a double injury blow ahead of the Six Nations.
Winger Mack Hansen will be absent for the next three or four months due to the injury he suffered to his right shoulder in Connacht’s New Year’s Day victory over Munster.
It has been a miserable time for the winger, who had already returned from two foot injuries this season. Connacht boss Pete Wilkins assessed the impact of Hansen’s loss on his own squad.
In doing so, he also summed up what Ireland will be missing.
“There’s an element with the game we’re in that unfortunately all players are used to injuries at certain times,” he said. “Guys are used to that but when it’s one of your top performers and biggest names there’s a greater disappointment because you know how important they are in terms of contributing on the field and with Mack as well, it’s not just performance, it’s the energy and the spirit he brings to the group as well.”
Jimmy O’brien looked poised to take Hansen’s place at the start of Ireland’s Grand Slam defence against France in Marseille on February 2. The 27-year-old did well off the bench against the All Blacks in the World Cup quarter-final and his versatility across the backline is a big asset.
However, Leinster announced that O’brien will be out of action for a number of months due to a neck injury.
Farrell, who will be unveiled as the new Lions head coach in London on Thursday, thrives on adversity and always speaks about the next man up seizing the opportunity.
But Ireland are without Johnny Sexton in a championship for the first time in 14 years and he needs as many of his big game players available as possible.
The championship will certainly test his back three options now.
James Lowe, Ireland’s other first choice winger, is expected to see game time with Leinster for the first time this season in their upcoming European games.
Lowe returned home to New Zealand for personal reasons after the finals and had also been nursing a foot injury.
Stockdale, 27, made a strong start to this season with Ulster after starting twice in the World Cup warm-ups – against Italy and Samoa – but didn’t see any game time in the finals.
A big display for his province against Toulouse on Saturday could seal the deal for a starting place against Les Bleus.
Munster’s Calvin Nash could push him for the spot, having also featured prominently in the first half of the season. He played in that warm-up against Italy but it was his Test debut, and so Stockdale’s experience may get him the nod.
Farrell will look at alternatives, too, such as Nash’s team-mates Shane Daly and Simon Zebo, Ulster’s Rob Baloucoune and Jordan Larmour of Leinster.