Ireland, the 2023 Grand Slam champions, had a heartbreaking experience in the quarter-finals of the Autumn Rugby World Cup. What will become of Andy Farrell’s accusations?
In 2023, Ireland has been ranked No. 1 in the world for a long time, winning the Six Nations Grand Slam and 17 Tests, and achieving great feats such as defeating eventual world champion South Africa in the World Cup pool. However, Farrell’s team ultimately fell down the standings. New Zealand won 28-24 at Stade de France in the quarter-finals.
With the talismanic Johnny Sexton gone, Ireland welcome a new playmaker to the scene, and Munster’s back-row Peter O’Mahony will also have to rebuild from the World Cup as a new captain.
In 2024, Ireland will travel to France and England to compete for back-to-back Grand Slam titles. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the opening game between Ireland and France in Marseille…
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- France – Stade Velodrome – Friday 2nd February – 8pm (GMT)
- Italy – Aviva Stadium – Sunday 11th February – 3pm (GMT)
- Wales – Aviva Stadium – Saturday 24th February – 2:15pm (GMT)
- England – Twickenham – Saturday 9th March – 4:45pm (GMT)
- Scotland – Aviva Stadium – Saturday 16th March – 4:45pm (GMT)
What has changed?
Ireland have a new captain in O’Mahony, a 34-year-old flanker who will take over from Sexton after the fly-half retired after the World Cup.
O’Mahony had been shortlisted for the role along with James Ryan, Garry Ringrose and Ian Henderson, but having captained Ireland for the first 10 Tests, he was tipped by Farrell to be the team’s next leader. He was trusted. He experienced even more during his 101 international caps.
O’Mahony has proven himself to be an excellent servant to Ireland and Munster, and the captain’s players will follow suit. He captained Munster for almost 10 years until the start of this season, and captained the British and Irish Lions in the first Test against New Zealand in January 2018. 2017 tour.
But he will be the man under pressure to perform as a strange contract situation unfolds in the background – O’Mahony is on an IRFU central contract for this season, but will cover next season The contract has not been signed yet. Despite O’Mahony being named captain, there are rumors that he has not been offered a full intensive contract.
In addition to Sexton leaving Test rugby at the age of 38, another Irish stalwart, Keith Earls, also retired at the age of 36 after the World Cup. Both players are players Farrell felt were essential to the team and will leave a huge hole.
Ireland are no longer the number one ranked team in the world either. The men in green topped the rankings from July 2022 to October 2023, but are currently second behind South Africa after a heartbreaking World Cup exit.
There was little change in Farrell’s team selection, with Munster’s Oli Jaeger (tighthead) and Thomas Ahern (lock/back row) and Leinster’s Sam Prendergast (flyhalf) capped. Three players who were not available were called up to the training slot. Due to the change, a new number 10 will start.
Munster’s Jack Crowley has developed into a position of absolute back-up to Farrell behind Sexton at the World Cup, with the 24-year-old particularly well-liked to start in the key game against France in the first round at Leinster All. It’s my favorite. Injured: Ross Byrne (arm, not in the squad), Harry Byrne (ankle sprain), Ciaran Frawley (back).
Crawley is extremely talented but it has been a very mixed bag of ups and downs for Munster so far this season. A lot rests on his shoulders in terms of Ireland’s ability to compete for the title in 2024.
What’s hot?
While being eliminated from the World Cup by the All Blacks was a disappointment for Ireland, the reality is that a one-shot final that could have gone either way doesn’t make them the weaker side overnight. This is also true. Or you shouldn’t anyway.
The Irish reached the Six Nations Grand Slam last year in the most dominant fashion ever seen in the Championship, defeating each team by at least 13 points (13 point win against France, 15 point win against Scotland). Points win, 13 points difference) – 2 points win against England, 24 point win against Wales, 14 point win against Italy), with most of that team remaining.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tajig Furlong, Tajig Beirne, Ryan, Henderson, Josh van der Flier, O’Mahony, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundy Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan and James Rowe all fit. And I’m dying to go.
Ireland proved that they have great team depth last year, with Finlay Bealham, Jack Conan, Conor Murray and Stuart McCloskey all playing in big matches.
Munster winger Calvin Nash, who made his Test debut in August, has had an excellent season so far and looks like a player ready to play for Ireland if given the chance.
The highly successful coaching team of Farrell, Paul O’Connell, Mike Catt and Simon Easterby will also remain in place, with Ireland unbeaten in a Test in Dublin since February 2021. He has been there for 4 years since February 2019.
The Irish national team remains very strong. Could you be suffering from a World Cup hangover? Will Sexton’s absence be a big negative? We’ll have to wait and see.
What is not?
With Sexton’s retirement, Ireland will lose their commander-in-chief on the pitch and one of the greatest playmakers in the history of the sport.
Ireland’s attacking sequences and play under Farrell were some of the most clever and effective of any team in the world, almost entirely directed by Sexton.
Another big negative for Ireland is the injury to genius winger Mack Hansen. Connacht suffered a shoulder injury in December and will miss all Championship games.
The 25-year-old started all five Grand Slam matches last year, scoring three tries, and also played in four of Ireland’s five Tests in their quest for the 2022 treble. A deadly finish and a playmaker in his own right, Hansen is a big loss.
Leinster’s versatile back Jimmy O’Brien, who made a huge impact in the World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in place of the injured Hansen, was also ruled out of the entire Six Nations due to a neck injury, while his impactful man Star loosehead Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder) is also missing.
Finally, as mentioned above, O’Mahony’s contract status. It’s terrible for the IRFU, Farrell and outgoing performance director David Nucifora that the national team’s new captain still hasn’t had his contract renewed.
This position meant O’Mahony had to answer questions about his contract at the Six Nations launch, one of the proudest moments of his and his family’s lives. There are 12 players on central contracts beyond the current season, so surely the Ireland captain will too? Especially since O’Mahony has so far shown no signs of slowing down or losing his place in the side.
Winning record
Six Nations since 2000: 5 wins (2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023)
Total: 15 titles (1894, 1896, 1899, 1935, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1974, 1982, 1985, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2023)
The 34 players who will represent Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations are as follows:
Forward (19): Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tajig Bairn, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris, Tajig Furlong, Cian Healy, Ian Henderson, Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony (c ), Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Tom Stewart, Nick Timane, Josh Van Der Flier.
Bucks (15): Bundy Aki, Harry Byrne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Rowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray , Calvin Nash, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale.