Mack Hansen is an essential player for Andy Farrell and Ireland
Mack Hansen and Jimmy O’Brien missed the Six Nations, James Rowe has only returned to training and hasn’t played since the World Cup, while Keith Earls and Andrew Conway have taken time out of their international careers. I’m there.
On Monday, it was revealed that Hansen will be out for three to four months with a dislocated shoulder, and O’Brien has a neck injury.
With Hugo Keenan currently the only winger or full-back on the pitch in the World Cup squad, it is no exaggeration to say that Ireland’s back three could look very different as they aim to defend their Six Nations title. do not have.
But some people’s misfortunes can be other people’s opportunities.
BBC Sport is investigating those who may benefit and coerce Andy Farrell’s plans.
jacob stockdale
image source, Getty Images
Jacob Stockdale is back to his best this season and his left boot could rival the returning James Rowe
Even before the injuries to Lowe, Hansen and O’Brien, there was talk of Jacob Stockdale returning to Irish colors.
He burst onto the scene for Ireland in 2017, winning the Six Nations Grand Slam the following year and scoring an astonishing 19 tries on the green, but injury and decline in form meant he was left out of the Ireland squad.
The first half of 2023 showed glimpses of his best form, and he started the new season like a freight train, scoring six tries. Simply put, if the 27-year-old plays well, Ulster will play well.
There are still questions about the defensive side of his game, but his stats are strong, having completed 87% of his tackle attempts this season.
Calvin Nash
Calvin Nash has been a consistent performer for Munster over the past 18 months.
Like Stockdale, Calvin Nash is another player who has performed well this season and could be in contention for selection regardless of who is eligible.
Nash’s only previous cap came in the World Cup opener against Italy, coming on as a second-half substitute in Dublin. He returned to club duties after that match, but began playing regular matches at Thomond Park.
He impressed as Munster won the United Rugby Championship final last year after starting in the final and has continued that form this season, scoring three tries so far.
robert balkoon
Robert Balkoon’s pace worries the world’s best defense
One of the fastest players, Robert Balkoun has proven himself on the international stage, but injury after injury has prevented the 26-year-old from increasing his cap numbers.
The 26-year-old, who has scored two tries in his four caps, including his debut against the United States in 2021, will be keen to force a return to Farrell’s mindset.
Former Irish Sevens player Baloucans currently plays for Ulster and although he hasn’t performed as well as he did previously this season, he has improved defensively with a tackle success rate of 91 per cent.
jordan larmore
Jordan Larmour looks like the player who burst onto the scene with Leinster and Ireland in 2018
There are similarities between Jordan Larmour and Stockdale, both of whom burst onto the scene but have been away from the international stage in recent years.
The 26-year-old, who can play as either a winger or a full-back, has won 30 caps and was a Grand Slam winner in 2018, but has not featured at international level since 2021.
This season he has been rediscovering his best form for Leinster, but he hasn’t always been at his best and has been getting regular, albeit patchy, minutes, giving up the backbone that Hansen was forced to give up. The uniform with number 14 looks the most comfortable.
Best among the rest?
Could Simon Zebo make a sensational return to play with Hugo Keenan and Jordan Larmour rather than against them?
Farrell has plenty of options at his disposal if he wants to look elsewhere for the Six Nations squad.
ulster fullback Will Addison Versatile Ulster player is back while expressing his desire to return to Ireland after overcoming a tough injury spell michael lowry He has continued to perform well this season and is hoping to earn more Ireland caps.With a wild card shout, Munster’s Simon Zebo He made a sensational comeback on the international stage and won his last cap in 2017 before moving to France.
Shane Daly Having won two caps for Ireland in 2020, Farrell is well aware of his appeal, while his Munster team-mates are mike haley The only appearance of his name is green.
Or Farrell could opt for someone less experienced like Connacht. Diarmuid KilgallenThe state’s top scorer for URC this season, he would have been in contention for a spot had it not been for injury, but his Springbok teammates are eligible to represent Ireland. Shane Boltonreturns to the Leinster wing Tommy O’Brienor ethan mcilroyHe has performed well for Ulster this season and is back in training after breaking his cheekbone against Munster in November and could feature as an outside shot.
There has been a lot of talk about players switching to sevens ahead of the Olympics, but what about the other way around? andrew smith The 2023 Irish Men’s Sevens Player of the Year has been playing more minutes in the 15s since joining Connacht from Munster last year.