LONDON IRISH
DISCUSSION POINTS
Strap yourselves in if you’re heading to Brentford. Last season Irish were about as predictable as rolling seven dice. Five times they drew, with mind-bending comebacks late in the game a real specialty.
So much of their play ran through fly-half Paddy Jackson. But game management often left huge points deficits to overcome and at other times they didn’t quite get over the lip of wins.
They’ve lost some big figures in Sean O’Brien and Albert Tuisue, but still have the electric kids in Henry Arundell, Will Joseph, Ollie Hassell-Collins… And the seemingly immortal AgustÍn Creevy. The ‘Heart Rate Heroes’ need more calming moments.
KEY PLAYER
We have to praise 37-year-old Creevy. The ex-Pumas captain is ageing like a fine beef – there’s a bit more marbling these days, and he’ll feel more tender, but boy does he pack a flavour punch. Fourth on the list of try-scorers last term, he even earned a big
Argentina recall. ONE TO WAT C H
Henry Arundell is a shooting star in a blazing young back-three unit. He has wowed for England now, too. Watch out.
WHAT’ S REALISTIC?
It has been a steady incline for Irish, who may leave victories out there, but the belief is building. It will sting that they didn’t win the Premiership Rugby Cup last season to give their squad some reward for that climb.
They might not have recruited play-off standard players; more the right men for a mugging or two. A threat when Test stars are missing for foes, but still a team built for the level between the trapdoor and the mass underneath the play-off spots.
FAN’ S VIEW
JacobBarr: “Up front we’re cautiously optimistic. Strong depth signings have replaced big names, with Fa’aso’o the player I’m most excited to see. Expect more of the same (but hopefully with more consistency). We want to see our back three involved as much as possible!”