Having faced Italy in the middle week of the Six Nations for the third year in a row, there was a welcome change for Ireland, who will now face Wales in the third round.
The Italian team has already been dispatched, with Ireland continuing their momentum with an impressive 36-0 win on matchday two and a fine away win over France in the opening game of the Championship.Andy Farrell’s side are in a good position ahead of Saturday’s game against Wales. [KO 2.15pm, RTÉ].
Farrell has used 30 players for the opening two games, which have been Ireland’s group games so far. Joe McCarthy, Calvin Nash, Jeremy Rahman and Harry Byrne made their Six Nations debuts, with McCarthy and Nash impressing in the starting XI.
James Rowe, Jack Crowley and Caelan Doris are the only players to play the full 160 minutes in both games, including Nash. [159]McCarthy [147]Robbie Henshaw [143]Hugo Keenan [136] Next on the list.
With a number of players performing well and several experienced players expected to return from injury this weekend, Farrell has some excellent selection options to consider ahead of the Wales game.
The Ireland manager is scheduled to play Matchday 23 on Thursday at 2pm, but one experienced figure who will probably not play in that game is full-back Hugo Keenan. He wore the number 15 shirt for Ireland throughout his time at Farrell and has shown durability and a steady presence.
Keenan is highly doubtful to play after sustaining a knee injury in the game against Italy two weeks ago. He did not train with the Irish national team last week and despite being named in the updated squad today, Keenan is still on the road to a return.
If Keenan is absent, Leinster teammate Ciaran Frawley is a strong candidate to start at full-back against Wales. The versatile Skerries man made his debut for Ireland as an out-half in a World Cup warm-up against Italy last summer and played 90 seconds at full-back in the closing stages of the recent win over France.
Andy Farrell and Irish fan and national anthem singer Stevie Mulroney. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Frawley has been in charge of training the entire backline in Ireland camps in recent seasons, and last year started in the midweek squad in New Zealand and Ireland A as No. 10, but Jimmy O’Brien and Mack Hansen are currently sidelined. Therefore, if Keenan is absent, it seems likely that he will wear the number 15 jersey.
Another Leinster player, Jordan Larmour, could also be in the slot. These days he has mainly played as a winger, but before Keenan’s rise to prominence, he was being developed as a long-term successor to Irish international Rob Kearney. Larmour also started at number 15 in the first three games of the Farrell era, but the 2020 Test was his most recent cap as a full-back. He did not play as a full-back for Leinster and came off the bench at outside center in the game against Italy two weeks ago upon his return to Ireland.
Still, Larmour can still play at 15, even if Frawley seems more suited to the Irish way.
Jacob Stockdale also played full-back for Ireland under Farrell, but that project ended with the rise of Keenan. Ulster men are now considered almost exclusively left-wing by the state and country.
Another possibility is for out-half Crowley to switch to full-back as he did against Italy, with either Byrne or Frawley starting at number 10, but Farrell believes the Munster man will He may be hoping to continue his impressive rhythm as a front-line out-half. There he started only 5 Tests.
Keenan aside, Ireland look to be in good shape heading into the third round.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is expected to return as blindside flanker after missing the game against Italy, with Ryan Baird shining in that role in the Corkman’s absence.
Tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong is also scheduled to return and will look to pick up where he left off. The Wexford man has been in good form of late, but it was an added plus for Farrell that Finlay Bealham was so good against Italy in Furlong’s absence.
Center Gary Ringrose is also expected to make his first appearance in this year’s Six Nations after recovering from a shoulder injury.
Ringrose has long been the first-choice outside center, but Henshaw was outstanding in the wins over France and Italy. Bandy Aki continued his strong form in the number 12 role against France, while Stuart McCloskey shone in that slot in his last appearance.
Aki has been struggling with knee problems recently, but if he is fit, it would not be a shock to see Farrell rejoin the Aki/Henshaw duo that did so well in France. That could mean Ringrose comes off the Irish bench and covers midfield and wing. The truth is, the midfield selection could still be strong no matter what direction it goes.
Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
In the second row, the starting duo of McCarthy and Tajig Beirne, who played well against France, is expected to return. Experienced James Ryan had a great game in the win against Italy, but could return to the bench. Despite Ian Henderson suffering a foot injury this week, the second row looks to have another strength.
The same goes for the back row. In fact, if Farrell reinstates the starting trio of O’Mahony, Josh van der Vlier and Doris, if Ireland chooses to split the forward and backs benches into five-thirds, Baird or Jack Conan There is a possibility that either of them will miss Round 23. Instead of the 6/2 used against France.
But if there are physical concerns with a player like Doris, who gave his all in the opening two games, the Irish could be comfortable adjusting with Connan and Baird ready to step up.
Of the 36 squad members named today, the players yet to feature in the Six Nations are Ringrose, Stockdale, hooker Tom Stewart, back-rower Nick Timoney and uncapped Munster forward. , just Oli Jaeger and Tom Ahern. This group of players is of high quality and underlines why they should be competing for even a spot on Ireland’s bench.
Farrell must be enjoying having good options across his squad, especially considering how much of an injury crisis Ireland had to deal with during last year’s Grand Slam run.
It must feel like relatively uneventful voyage so far this time around, but the Ireland manager knows the Six Nations could bring surprises on the horizon.