Andrew Conway could yet be a game-breaker for Ireland… if he gets a game.
Back in January, Joe Schmidt announced his wider squad for the 2017 Six Nations. Conway was one of three uncapped players – along with brothers Niall and Rory Scannell – included in the 40.
While Niall Scannell will be hoping for his fourth cap against England today, his Munster teammate will be anxious to get ‘Cap 1’. For now, Conway will be wearing ‘Cap 0’ on his jersey.
The same anomaly caused some confusion [below] back in November, ahead of Ireland’s 40-29 victory over New Zealand, when Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery sported jerseys with ‘Cap 0’ stitched on.
Strange but true https://t.co/1WyAsRjJMn
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 5, 2016
As Ian Madigan explained, uncapped players on the bench are still deemed to be on ‘0’ until they make their debuts. This would be different if Conway, for example, was starting. He would then deem to be on Cap 1 from the moment the match starts.
While some thought the IRFU’s decision to put ‘Cap 0’ on Carbery and Ringrose’s jerseys strange, it worked out to be a sensible move. Carbery came off the bench to replace Sexton, make his debut and lap over a tricky conversion.
Ringrose was not called from the bench as Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne lasted the pace. His Ireland debut would come a week later when he started against Canada.
Given the toll of Test rugby and the gruelling championship grind to date, is likely that Conway will shake off that ‘0’ in the final stages of this afternoon’s curtain closer. He is enjoying a good season with Munster and is capable of causing England some trouble.
