11 caps and five starts between them.
Joe Schmidt had a good point when he mentioned Ireland lost three Lions on the same week as Wales welcomed back three Lions of their own.
He followed that up by suggesting Ireland was short on experience against a strong Welsh side but it was soon pointed out, online, that Ireland’s starting team has 50 more caps when compared to Warren Gatland’s side.
Ireland XV – 604 caps (511 starts), Wales XV – 554 (430 starts). https://t.co/WinDfOZbOO
— Russ Petty (@rpetty80) February 22, 2018
What Schmidt may have been alluding to is that six of his starting 15 account for just 27 of those 604 caps. Ireland will have relative international newcomers starting at tight-head, lock, openside, left wing and in midfield.
It is Schmidt’s prerogative to be cautious but his senior players had no fear in talking up their green teammates.
Cian Healy and Keith Earls [139 caps between them] spoke glowingly of ‘strong lad’, ‘freak show’ and ‘monster’ – in order, Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Chris Farrell.
Porter and Ryan replace Tadhg Furlong and Iain Henderson. It is undoubtedly a blow for Ireland but Healy spoke bullishly of his teammates’ talents.
“If you look at Ports firstly,” he began, “over the last year and a half what he’s had to take in his stride, changing sides of the scrum, how he’s developed that part of his game, it’s more exciting than nervous to see what he’s going to provide.
“He’s a very talented player, strong lad, and he’s pretty comfortable to scrummage with, you don’t feel like there’s any deficit.
“And then there’s the freak show that is James Ryan, he just keeps producing so that’s exciting as well, and to have his energy behind you in the scrum as well is just brilliant. He’ll be behind Ports, so that’s going to be a strong side.”
Earls revealed he had been tipped off to Farrell by his former Munster teammate Mike Prendergast when he was coach at Grenoble.
“I knew he was Irish playing in France so I was looking at that league and meeting Prendie on holidays this year, he was telling me how excited he is for me to play with Chris with his passing game but… he’s a monster as well!”
A six-foot-five centre that can move at some clip and spin 25-yard passes off his left. a pretty talented monster to unleash.
