CENTRES OF ATTENTION
Ireland’s remaining midfield options to play in Belfast
A REMARKABLE series of events sees Ireland, ahead of a heavy November schedule, reduced to THREE realistic centre options.
All three, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey, will be playing in the Ulster-Leinster clash in Belfast on Friday night.
It’s a scarcity of resources — partly self-inflicted, part wear and tear and part logistical — that is almost unprecedented.
Bundee Aki is facing a lengthy suspension after being redcarded in South Africa last weekend, while Chris Farrell will be attending French court for the foreseeable future.
James Hume is suffering from a groin injury and Keith Earls was taken from the field after just 12 minutes last week and is expected to miss at least three weeks.
Also, Leinster and Munster are committed to using new Kiwi signings Charlie Ngatai and Malakai Fekitoa.
While Connacht’s loss of Sammy Arnold to Brive this season leaves them, when they are without Aki, with 28-year-old
Tom Farrell and 29-year-old Tom Daly, both uncapped, as first-choice.
Here is the nightmare before November so — two of the three centres crash into each other at Ravenhill and get carried off injured…
Ireland face four major games through November: a New Zealand XV (November 14), South Africa (November 15), a resurgent Fiji (November 12) and Australia (November 19).
Sudden
Given the fierce Ulster-Leinster rivalry and the sudden developments in the centre, Henshaw, for one, could have been excused for showing some trepidation.
But the Leinster star is looking forward to the clash, not least as there are thoughts of revenge for last season’s double defeat in the air.
“I’m excited about what’s coming this weekend in particular,” he says.
“They took us twice, in the RDS and up there, so to have an inter-pro this early is nice and we are looking forward to this week and the season ahead.”
Strange to relate, only McCloskey played both games as Hume and Stuart Moore also started for Ulster.
Henshaw, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osbourne and Rory O’Loughlin made one appearance apiece in the Leinster shirts.
“Usually its rounds four or five you come back,” notes Henshaw of coming back for URC Round 3.
“We had a good break after New Zealand and with Stuart Lancaster (taking training) we weren’t just running with a ball and doing straight-line fitness.
“From the first day back in he had us training with the team and a ball in our hands so we got the rustiness out of us fairly quickly and the skills back going.
“It’s exciting and looking forward to building each week as the season goes on.”
Henshaw expects to see McCloskey opposite him at first centre at the Kingspan, the Ulster player quite possibly laying claim to having been the form Irishman of the opening fortnight.
Henshaw agrees: “He’s been brilliant for Ulster, he’s their goto man at the moment and has been to change a game.
“He is playing immense stuff so we will have to be ready for the physicality and Luke Marshall as well, give him a shout, it’s been great to see him back playing.
“Luke has had a tough time the last few years and he is playing great stuff as well.
“I am looking forward to Friday, these are often tight, onescore games that you really have to come away with points when you get chances.”
Meanwhile Henshaw says the squad will watch with interest given Leinster have almost nine months to look for a replacement for Stuart Lancaster.
“I’d imagine it’s going to be a big debate on who we’ll get in, but we’d be regarded as one of the best organisations in Europe so again there’s a cycle in things.
Great
“I’ve played under great coaches who have moved on and new coaches have come in and sometimes it’s great when a fresh coach comes in.
“Johnny Sexton’s name has been thrown around. I reckon he will play-coach.
“Andrew Goodman is in this year, he’s brilliant for the backs. He’s brought something new.
“So, as a player, it is tough to see a coach leave but it’s exciting to see what a new voice and set of eyes brings.”