McCarthy, Crawley and Nash make first Six Nations starts – Irish Times

Joe McCarthy, Jack Crowley and Calvin Nash will make their first Six Nations starts on Friday in Ireland v France’s title defense at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome (kick-off 9pm local time). kick-off at 8pm Irish time).

The fourth change from his starting lineup in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand is Robbie Henshaw’s return to midfield in the absence of Garry Ringrose, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Cian Healy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird and Ciaran Frawley feature on Ireland’s bench in a 6-2 formation for the first time.

Farrell admitted Ringrose had taken a “bang on the shoulder” during his side’s Champions Cup win over Leicester about two weeks ago, adding that the match was “a bit too quick” for the centre.

“He flew home yesterday with a few other players and is undergoing rehabilitation. Hopefully the injury is not too long and he can be back for the next game,” the Ireland head coach said next Sunday. He talked about the second match against Italy, which will be played at home.

After starting twice in the previous five Tests, the 22-year-old, 6’6, 112kg McCarthy started in the World Cup pool win against Romania and played the final 22 minutes in the quarter-final against New Zealand. played from the bench. Since then, Leinster’s Champions Cup pool games against La Rochelle, Stade Français, the try-scoring spree against Leicester at Welford Road in particular, and Munster on St Stephen’s Day at Thomond Park. He has shown a series of great performances in victories.

France v Ireland preview with Gordon D’Arcy and Noel McNamara

But Farrell and Paul O’Connell have been fans since taking him on a tour of New Zealand in 2022.

“Not after the World Cup,” Farrell said of Lock’s shape. “That was during the World Cup and actually before that too. It’s something we’re seeing in training and development and so on, and it’s what other players are seeing as well.

He’s a young man on a mission, he’s there to seize his chances and opportunities while he can, and he tends to do that most days.

Nash had always been felt to be more likely to fit into Ireland’s last line in place of the injured Mack Hansen, but he earned one cap as a substitute in the pre-war win over Italy and was named in the wider World Cup squad. After a series of performances, he made his full test debut. It will come true.

“This is a reward for him coming to camp and understanding what the job within the team is like for him and leaving camp to work on those parts. In fact, he’s improving his game. He was very good at improving most areas,” Farrell said.

“So, obviously in terms of his workload and stuff like that, but his work when he doesn’t have the ball and what he does when he has the ball and makes a difference and is an additional link in the attack. Finding a way is really paying off by leaps and bounds. Once again, all you need in life is a chance, and it’s a big one for Calvin. ”

Speaking about what is expected to be an unprecedented 6-2 bench battle, Farrell said: We all know it’s going to be a battle of attrition and set-pieces are important in any game we play against France. They’re big men, they have the size of the pack, they’re very accurate when it comes to set pieces, but not only that, but given where we’re playing, the conditions, and the type of game that France is also capable of, a broken field. play with

“We think this game is going to be another fast game, so when you look at our bench, the power and pace that we have in this group is what we have to finish the game on a strong note. We believe it’s a good idea and that it will work for our team.”Thank you very much. ”

Of course, this match-up between the last two Grand Slam champions marks the beginning of the post-Johnny Sexton era, but Farrell insists this will not change much of Ireland’s game.

“No, I don’t think so. I think what we’ve worked hard with Johnny these last four years is everyone around him has held themselves accountable. Certainly in that regard. I feel like we’ve made leaps and bounds. We’re no longer just relying on “10” to steer our ship. If you look at Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, or James Lowe, Robbie, Bundy and the progress he’s made in the last four years of his life, the organization and his skills have improved tremendously.

“We’ve worked hard to get to that point, and hopefully that continues.”

Crowley played in all of Ireland’s World Cup matches as a substitute for Sexton, but started just three Tests and was a late substitute for Sexton to lead Ireland to victory over Australia (McCarthy also played in the Test). The night he made his debut) was held in November 2022, and won against Italy and Samoa in the World Cup prelude.

Farrell described Crawley as a “confident kid” but admitted it was a big ask for the 24-year-old Munster out-half.

“It’s difficult for young kids, especially to take on such a responsibility in his position, but he feels very comfortable being able to do it. How he runs during the week is very important. And he has to make sure his other teammates feel like they’re in control. He’s obviously learning a lot from Johnny in that respect.

“Harry [Byrne] He’s pretty good at that, and Ciaran Frawley is getting better at that, too, but performance is all that matters. It was very good, and it was very good, to do that preparation in camp and then translate that into the performance that we all want to see. ”

When asked what excited him most about this Irish team, Farrell replied: Do we have enough courage to do what we say we’re going to do? And obviously we’re playing against a world-class team.

“But taking advantage of opportunities and being the best version of yourself is an expectation we have for ourselves, so it will be hard for us to live up to it, but if we want to succeed. If you want to strive to be the best, then you have to beat the best players in places like this and the opportunities are not as great.

“We have to enjoy those opportunities and go after them.”

As expected, Fabien Galtier remained the core of the French team that suffered a heartbreaking one-goal loss to South Africa in their home World Cup quarter-final on Friday night.

All five changes made by the French head coach were expected, most notably the new second-row pairing of Paul Gabriag and Paul Willemse, with Bordeaux Bagels center Yoram Moefana on the wing. Will be a starter.

Maxime Luuk has been promoted to scrumhalf in place of Olympic hopeful Antoine Dupont, while François Clos has likewise replaced injured Toulouse teammate Anthony Geronche, who has been sidelined for several months with a torn knee cruciate ligament. He entered the back row. He had just recovered from the same injury in time for the World Cup.

Toulouse’s other duo of Thibault Flamand (foot) and Emmanuel Mehoud (knee) were also injured, and with Cameron Wouki unwell and relegated to the bench, Gavrilag was sidelined for more than four years. He was called back. He won the last of his 16 caps at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, losing to Wales in the quarter-finals. Willemse, who missed out on the World Cup, will also be recalled.

The selection of Moejuana ahead of the more natural winger Louis Vier Bialley, who lost the World Cup quarter-final after struggling in the air, is unusual. Biel-Bialley, who can also play as a full-back, is on the bench alongside genius uncapped racing scrum-half Nolan Le Garrec.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Calvin Nash (Münster), robbie henshaw (Leinster), Bundy Aki (Connacht), james lowe (Leinster); jack crowley (Münster), jamison gibson park (Leinster); andrew porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Tadhg Berne (Münster); peter o’mahony (Münster, Captain), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), keiran doris (Leinster).

Replacement: Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), cian healy (Leinster), finlay bellum (Connacht), james ryan (Leinster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), jack conan (Leinster), conor murray (Münster), ciaran frawley (Leinster).

France: thomas ramos (Toulouse); Damien Penault (Bordeaux bagel), Gael Fickou (Racing 92), Jonathan danti (La Rochelle), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux bagel); Mathieu Jalibert (Bordeaux bagel), Maxim Luk (Bordeaux bagel); Cyril Baille (Toulouse), pete maubaka (Toulouse), Wini Atonio (La Rochelle); Paul Gavrilags (Stade Francais), paul willems (Montpellier); François Clos (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Gregory Aldritt (Captain La Rochelle).

replacement: julian marchand (Toulouse), Leda Waldi (La Rochelle), Dorian Aldegueri (Toulouse), Roman Taofifenua (Lyon), Cameron Woki (Racing 92), paul budehent (La Rochelle), nolan le garrec (Racing 92), Louis Vier Bierley (Bordeaux bagel).

Referee: Carl Dixon (UK).