The South African powerhouse poised to lock down Ireland berth
South African’s late surge could reshuffle pack
FOR the first time in five World Cup cycles, an Ireland squad will not be able to call upon the services of Paul O’Connell. A serious hamstring injury sustained in that punishing pool victory over the French four years ago put an end to a distinguished career.
In the weeks and months that followed O’Connell’s retirement, it was said many times that Irish rugby might never see his like again. Step forward, James Ryan. The Leinster tyro has gone from strength to strength since he burst on the scene two years ago. It became very obvious early in Ryan’s fledgling career that he had the right stuff, a new-age lock that could carry, tackle and hit rucks with the same ferocity as world class backrowers. O’Connell became that player, eventually.
The Munster lock was arguably at his peak in 2015 despite carrying a battered 35-year-old frame around the park. O’Connell was always a fierce competitor and born leader, but he became an all-rounder in his later years — developing his passing game, defence and offloading ability.
Ryan arrived out of St Michael’s with the athleticism and the skillset to thrive in the modern game. The aura and leadership will come with time. The 23-year-old is sitting his driving test this week, but he is assured of a seat on the flight to Japan.
The issue of which other locks will join him in the departure lounge at Dublin Airport next month is still up for debate...
THE TECHNICIAN
ONE of Joe Schmidt’s mosttrusted lieutenants, Devin Toner is a vital cog in Ireland’s setup.
Schmidt’s gameplan relies heavily on a functioning set-piece and Toner is undoubtedly Ireland’s premier lineout technician. Almost half of Ireland’s tries scored during their memorable 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam stemmed from their lineout and it has remained one of Schmidt’s key attacking weapons since he took up the top job with Ireland in the summer of 2013.
Think back to Ireland’s win over the All Blacks in November and Jacob Stockdale’s audacious solo-effort, which proved the winning of the Test. It was a slick three-phase attacking move which stemmed from a quick feed off the top of the lineout from Peter O’Mahony. When you consider all that, Toner suddenly becomes a vital member of this current squad.
The Meathman has learned from some of the best in the business, including O’Connell and his current head coach at Leinster, Leo Cullen.
Honest and durable, Toner is not the flashiest of forwards but he regularly gets through 80 minutes of solid work at Test level and has added a physical edge to his game that was sorely lacking in his younger years.
His value was best exemplified last season when he sat out the autumn meeting against Argentina with the lineout malfunctioning badly in his absence.
It was the same story in the Six Nations, when the 33-year-old was missed in the opening round loss to England. Ireland’s usuallyreliable lineout stuttered throughout the championship and imploded in the games against Italy and Wales. Toner is assured of a World Cup spot.
THE ENFORCER
WHEN Iain Henderson is on form, he could easily be bracketed in the ‘world class’ section. The Ulster forward possesses ‘mutant strength’ as a former team-mate once observed. There were audible gasps in the Lansdowne Road press box a few years ago when Henderson stampeded over Eben Etzebeth, leaving the giant Springbok lock sprawling on the deck like roadkill. Type Henderson’s name into YouTube and you will be greeted by plenty of video highlights packages with titles like ‘The Destroyer’ and ‘The Enforcer’.
The 27-year-old is a sure bet to provide box-office moments for the highlights reel. The issue with Henderson is his tendency to drift out of games and lose concentration and it was telling last week to hear Ireland’s head coach utter a classic Schmidt-ism when he talked of Ryan’s ‘continuous positive involvements’.
Schmidt values players who work hard and stay in the game. When O’Connell retired after the last World Cup, Henderson was tipped to nail down a starting place in the Ireland team, but he has never been able to fully convince Schmidt. Not yet anyway.
His value as an impact replacement has been used to devastating effect on plenty of occasions. Henderson will make the flight to Tokyo. His next challenge is upsetting the established order of Ryan and Toner.
THE WILDCARD
THE issue of ‘project players’ has always been a polarising subject. Most of the top nations in the world — aside from Argentina — have been happy to fast-track overseas players, who qualify for the adopted nation on residency, into their squads.
Schmidt has had no gripes. There have been some duds such as Robbie Diack, Rodney Ah You and Sean Reidy but there is no doubt the likes of Jared Payne, CJ Stander and Bundee Aki have made massive contributions in the green shirt.
Jean Kleyn was the latest foreign cab off the rank last weekend when Munster’s South African-born lock won his first cap against Italy.
Word is that Schmidt is very keen to bring Kleyn to Japan, and has been for quite some time. Kleyn’s size, scrummaging power and aggression at the breakdown are real points of difference in a pack of forwards that lacks size when compared to the likes of England and South Africa. Kleyn has bolter written all over him.
THE MAVERICK
IT’S hard to believe that Tadhg Beirne’s World Cup place is potentially in doubt. The Munster lock was stockpiling manof-the-match awards for fun last season while his ability to win turnovers is up there with world class ‘jackals’ like David Pocock and Sam Cane. The issue is Beirne is a bit of a maverick and is pretty much given a free role at his province, not an easy fit in the Schmidt plan. But Beirne could well travel as an extra flanker. Schmidt would be mad to leave him at home.