HOW BEIRNE CAN ADD FRESH DYNAMIC TO BREAKDOWN FOR IRELAND
Munster lock primed to make big impact on potentially his first Six Nations appearance
BEFORE the Six Nations kicked off, if someone had said that by the time Ireland arrive at the penultimate round, they would have won just two turnover steals and Peter O’Mahony would be the only player to have done so, most people would have questioned if they were talking about the same team that dominated on all fronts last year.
Yet, here we are.
Ireland’s work at the breakdown over the first three games hasn’t been at the standard that Joe Schmidt demands and that will be a big focus at training this week.
Some questionable referring interpretations have played a part in that, yet Ireland’s inaccuracies have largely been down to the general lethargy that has spread across the team.
They couldn’t get near England who obliterated them. Scotland weren’t good enough to take advantage of the success they had, particularly on turnover ball, while Italy were made to look far better at the breakdown that they actually were.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton have copped flak for their performances, but Schmidt will know that if the pack can speed up the ball at ruck time as well as improve the quality of possession for his half-backs on which to play off, that would go some way to getting Ireland firing again.
In O’Mahony, Seán O’Brien, Dan Leavy and Tadhg Beirne, Ireland have four of the best poachers in Europe if not the world, yet injury has meant that the latter two have yet to feature in the tournament, while O’Brien is still trying to hit top form after his own lengthy spell out.
Leavy’s absence has been greatly felt, particularly at the breakdown, but despite upping his recovery this week, it has to be seen as a risk to throw him straight back in against France with so little game-time under his belt.
Starting Beirne would be far less of a risk, especially considering how well he played for Munster against the Ospreys two weeks ago on what was his return from a knee injury.
Such was the haste with which he left Carton House after he was a late call-up, Beirne forgot his trademark blue scrum cap that so often makes his the work he does around the pitch all the more noticeable.
As it turned out, however, the 27-year-old didn’t need the recognisable headgear to stand out because he put in an immense shift that had all the hallmarks of a player who was annoyed that he wasn’t on his way to Rome with the Ireland squad.
Since returning home, Beirne has maintained his scintillating form from his time with the Scarlets as he continues to dominate the breakdown regardless of the opposition.
Schmidt faces a big decision whether to pair Beirne or Iain Hen-
derson with James Ryan in the engine room and even though the smart money would suggest that it will be the Ulster man, Beirne’s form is becoming difficult to ignore.
For an area that is usually a strength for Ireland, winning only two breakdown steals in three games is something that Schmidt will be looking to quickly rectify and, in Beirne, he has a readymade arch poacher.
O’Mahony managed one steal against England and another in the win over Italy but, other than that, Ireland have not had any joy in securing turnover ball at the breakdown.
Ireland have failed to come out on the right side of the ledger in terms of breakdown turnovers in their first three games; England had a 2-1 success rate, Scotland 3-0, while Italy had the same number (1) as Schmidt’s men.
Beirne has been the biggest threat at the ruck in Europe over the last couple of seasons and his numbers for Munster continue to stack up. He has won 28 turnovers in the 15 games he has played for his new club this season, which is a staggering rate for someone with such a sizeable frame.
France will come hard at Ireland at the breakdown, which they will be prepared for. Josh van der Flier appears to be the front-runner to start at the Aviva, with Leavy, O’Brien, Rhys Ruddock and Jack Conan all battling it out for the bench spot.
Option
If Schmidt does go with Henderson from the start, Beirne is a potential game-changing option to have on the bench. Ireland will be expected to move France around the park in an attempt to tire them out and having the all-action Kildare native to call upon could prove decisive.
It has been a long road to the Six Nations stage for Beirne, who, despite being one of Europe’s best players for a while now, has still never played in the tournament.
With France selecting the same back-row that were successful against Scotland – Louis Picamoles, Arthur Iturria and Wenceslas Lauret – they have the ability to hurt Ireland if they don’t step up their intensity at the breakdown.
Beirne is primed and ready to do just that and whether his impact is felt from the start or from the bench, it will be worth waiting for.
Ireland have failed to come out on the right side of the ledger in terms of breakdown turnovers in first three games