The big calls may have to wait under Andy Farrell gets a hefty medical report back.
Despite a valiant 67-minute effort with only 14 men, Ireland dropped their Six Nations opener against Wales and are already in win-or-bust territory. It will be interesting to see, on Friday, what changes are made to the Ireland team for the visit of France.
While Peter O’Mahony will be hoping to avoid a lengthy ban, after his red card against the Welsh, it is likely that he will miss the France game, and possibly the meeting with Italy, in Rome, at the end of the month.
Other areas to ponder include outhalf and second row after Johnny Sexton and James Ryan both left the field of play with head knocks. There is also the matter of how to reward Iain Henderson for his epic replacement shift and if Tadhg Furlong can fit back in.
On the latest House of Rugby Ireland, host Eimear Considine looked back on that game with former Ireland internationals Chris Henry and Fergus McFadden and [LISTEN from 20:30 below] discussed the changes that could be made for the France game.
“They’ll have to see what the injury profile is,” says Henry, “and, obviously, Peter O’Mahony will be out so there’s another back row decision to be made.
“Someone who I think was hard done-by today was Rhys Ruddock, who I think has been outstanding. And what a great story it was for him to come back.
“They certainly do need to make a few key changes to the panel because they’ve been knocked and they’ve got a short turnaround. It may be an idea to throw some fresh legs in. Tadhg Furlong, after his cameo, he’s going to be really important against the French.
“The centre combination, for me, was excellent. The ability of Henshaw and Ringrose to win those extra few yards, with their foot-work, was a real positive.’
“Henderson and Tadhg Beirne have played quite a bit at six,” Henry added, “so do you maybe consider that if James Ryan is fit? With Pete missing out, you’d be missing another lineout operator. Leading into the Six Nations, it was all about how do Ireland compete with the power game of France and England. Maybe you don’t worry about combinations and try and get your best players on the pitch.”
As Henry notes, ‘the big, big teams are coming our way’. Farrell will have to decide if he wants to inject the considerable presence of Ruddock into his back row or maybe shift Beirne there and put Josh van der Flier or Will Connors in reserve.
To our mind, this Ireland team would be given a real shot in the arm if Furlong were to start at tighthead. If James Ryan is fit, keep him in there with Iain Henderson and move Beirne to the blindside position vacated by O’Mahony. Van der Flier merits another start but we would not gripe too much if Farrell switched him and Connors about.
On the wing, switch out Keith Earls for Jordan Larmour and hope that Sexton gets the all-clear for France before he can sit out the Italy game [or sit on the bench]. As for reserve outhalf, if Jack Carty [our preference] does not get a call, stick with Billy Burns over Ross Byrne and back him to deliver.
Our Ireland team to face France
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Gary Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray1. Cian Healy
2. Rob Herring
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Iain Henderson
5. James Ryan
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Josh van der Flier
8. CJ Stander
Subs: Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Rhys Ruddock, Will Connors, Jamison Gibson-Park, Billy Burns, Keith Earls.
CATCH THAT FULL EPISODE HERE:
