“To me, Hugo Keenan was man of the match.”
It was not all smooth sailing for Ireland, on Saturday, despite what the final scoreline of 32-15 might suggest. That being said, the Irish back three of Andrew Conway, James Lowe and Hugo Keenan all had fine games against England.
After Mike Lowry starred with two tries and an assist on his Ireland debut, at fullback, Keenan needed to be right on it against England at Twickenham.
Even with Marcus Smith locating him with some high bombs, the Leinster star coped well with all aerial questions. He did a lot more besides, with 117 metres gained off 17 carries and a crucial try before half-time.
On the latest House of Rugby URC [LISTEN from 13:00 below], the outstanding performance of Hugo Keenan was given a proper going over. An England legend, meanwhile named him as the only Irishman in a strong-looking Six Nations ‘Team of the Week’.
Ireland players, from left, Conor Murray, Hugo Keenan and Jack Conan before their November 2021 game against New Zealand at Aviva Stadium. (Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)Hugo Keenan the only Irish player to make Six Nations ‘Best XV’ selection
“The Irish guys didn’t give him enough protection, I felt,” said Connacht flanker Conor Oliver on his former Blackrock College teammate Hugo Keenan.
“I felt he was going up for a lot of high balls, catching it well but getting smoked, man and ball. Fair play to Hugo, he’s amazing in the air and, to me, he was my man of the match… they were putting bombs on top of him, he was diffusing them and then getting smoked.
“At one point, [England centre] Joe Marchant was at the ruck – when Hugo landed – before any Irish player. You could see that hunger from England.”
Keenan topped our Irish player ratings from the game, finishing on the same high mark as England stand-outs Ellis Genge and Maro Itoje. He won high praise in The Guardian and Sunday Times, while legendary England back-row Maggie Alphonsi had him at fullback in her ‘Team of the Week’ selection for The Telegraph.
Caelan Doris was the only other Ireland player to get an honourable mention while Ellis Genge got Alphonsi’s loosehead spot as he ‘dismantled Tadhg Furlong in the scrum’.
MAGGIE ALPHONSI’S 6 NATIONS ‘DREAM TEAM’
15. Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
14. Ange Capuozzo (Italy)
13. Chris Harris (Scotland)
12. Jonathan Danty (France)
11. Gabin Villiere (France)
10. Dan Biggar (Wales)
9. Ali Price (Scotland)1. Ellis Genge (England)
2. Julian Marchand (France)
3. Uini Antonio (France)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Will Rowlands (Wales)
6. Courtney Lawes (England)
7. Anthony Jelonch (France)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
